Berk Kutay Gökmen
04 September 2026•Update: 04 September 2026
The US House of Representatives approved a Republican-backed bill Thursday that would penalize universities participating in boycotts of Israel or restricting students from joining exchange programs with that country.
The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed 237-169, with 33 Democrats voting with Republicans and two Republicans opposing the legislation. The bill now moves to the Senate.
Colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs would be barred from joining boycotts of Israel under the measure.
Institutions receiving federal funding for international study and foreign language programs would also have to certify annually that they do not restrict students from participating in programs in Israel or Israeli students from joining programs on their campuses.
“The antisemitic rot that has corroded college campuses must be eradicated, said Republican congresswoman Virginia Foxx from the state of North Carolina. “Today, the House sent a clear message: if an institution of higher education chooses to capitulate to the caustic BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, there will be consequences – starting with this bipartisan legislation.”
Democrat Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey, who co-sponsored the bill with Foxx, said it was needed to combat antisemitism.
“No student, no professor should be shut out of research, study abroad opportunities, or academic partnerships or feel unwelcome in the classroom because of where they are from or what religion they practice. Yet that’s exactly what the boycott-divest-sanction movement seeks to do – targeting one country and one religion: Israel and Judaism,” he said.
“My bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Foxx is narrow and targeted — it doesn’t touch anyone’s speech, protest, or academic debate. It simply says that if your university takes federal taxpayer dollars, it can’t discriminate against academic partnerships or investments with one country,” he added.
