This is the first contribution from Cameron Cayer (Yamagata-ken, 2023-25). Originally from Rhode Island, then university in Washington, DC, he is currently taking the “long way home” through East, Southeast, and South Asia. Currently reporting from Flores, Indonesia.
Note: Here is a new Google Form for anyone who would like to submit their own response after reading this article, or for anyone who would like to share a reaction to this article.
The year 2025 has been one of major upheaval and change. There have been significant shifts in many US policies, massive government restructuring, and wide-ranging budget cuts budget changes. How have these changes impacted JETs and JET alumni? Earlier this year, JETwit reached out to the JET alumni community to conduct a survey to ask former JETs how, if at all, they have been affected. Nearly 100 JET alumni responded, and below is a summary of themes and some quotes from the responses.
The data undoubtedly reveals that U.S. federal budget cuts and policy shifts have created a climate of widespread anxiety and uncertainty among current and former JET Program participants. While the immediate effects vary, a clear pattern of professional and personal instability has emerged from the community’s responses.
Direct Professional Impact: Layoffs and Lost Opportunities
For many, the policy changes have resulted in direct job losses and a stalled career trajectory.
- Several federal contractors and government employees reported being laid off due to canceled contracts and the defunding of entire departments. One respondent noted, “All of our U.S. government partners have been fired or furloughed.”
- Non-profits and international organizations are also heavily impacted. One individual stated, “My agency has had grants canceled by our funders and our clients have had to cancel contracts with my team because their grants were rescinded.” This has led to staff restructures and layoffs.
- Academia and education have not been spared. Cuts to federal grants (e.g., NIH) have led to hiring freezes, rescinded job offers, and budget cuts. An art teacher expressed concern that their job would be eliminated, as “the arts are always the first to go when there’s a funding shortfall.”
- Opportunities for advanced education and career development have been significantly reduced. Several key international education programs, including Fulbright and the Critical Language Scholarship, have been halted or defunded. One person shared, “I have lost 2 internship opportunities this spring.”
Widespread Personal and Economic Disruption
Beyond professional impacts, survey responses indicated a potentiallyheavy personal toll on the JET community.
- There is a pervasive fear of a looming recession. One former JET who now owns a small business remarked, “The future is quite uncertain and my clientele are generally fearful and often ask if my prices will increase.”
- Many are reconsidering their plans to return to the U.S. One respondent said, “I’m not going to be able to return to the US this year after all because I simply can’t get a job in the US.” Another person, still on JET, feels “trapped” but also grateful for their stable position in Japan.
- The stress of the political climate is a major concern. Individuals are experiencing increased anxiety. As one person put it, “The rhetoric of the current administration is rotten to the core.”
Impacts on Marginalized Communities
For some, the policy changes and political rhetoric are not just a matter of professional worry but a fundamental concern for their safety and well-being.
- Attacks on DEI initiatives and anti-immigrant rhetoric have created a climate of fear. A transgender person said, “I feel I have an added pressure to stay [in Japan] longer to stay safer and be able to access my hormones”.
- Many feel that their rights and safety are at risk. One respondent, a first-generation immigrant, shared their fear “of going back since I’m not sure what the current administration will do to me as a 1st generation immigrant who came to America as a child.”
Waiting and Seeing
It’s worth noting that some respondents indicated no direct effect as of the time of their response.
A Note of Optimism
Not all views were negative. Some respondents expressed a positive outlook on the policy changes.
- One individual felt that the government was “addressing the most basic, foundational matters relevant to every American” for the first time in their life. This person was happy with the new administration’s focus on reducing “bloated bureaucracy” and addressing the national debt.
- Another respondent expressed relief that there is now a “focus on economic growth again” to ensure job security and a reasonable cost of living.
- An individual who owns a business helping people relocate to Japan has seen a “huge spike in interest” from people looking to “go back to Japan,” which they found satisfying.
- One respondent noted that if the administration follows through on its promise to remove the foreign-earned income tax, it would be “extraordinary and the first time a president has enacted legislation that would immediately benefit my life.”
For many, the experience of living abroad has even reshaped their perspective on what “home” truly means. As one respondent said, “It’s a country that I no longer recognize, leaving me feeling like an expat with no true ‘home.'” And as mentioned above, others are seriously considering staying in Japan, as they feel unsafe or unsure about returning to the U.S.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey!
Comments or reactions to this article? Want to tell us how you’re doing or how 2025 has affected you? Please feel free to submit your comments through this Google Form. We plan to do a follow up article in the coming months that will include new responses.
leave a reply