Colleges allowing events promoting Jew-hatred on their campuses would face the loss of federal funding under legislation recently reintroduced in both houses of Congress.
The Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), says schools receiving federal funding cannot “authorize, facilitate, provide funding for or otherwise support” such events.
“The intention of taxpayer dollars for universities is to educate students, not promote and foster hate,” Scott stated. “Let’s make one thing clear: Federal funding is a privilege and not a right. Rooting out hate wherever it rears its ugly head will always be in fashion.
The bill, which uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, was first introduced in the 118th Congress and follows the Trump administration’s decision to cut off $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, which saw anti-Israel protests after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Jewish students reported being spat on and facing antisemitic rhetoric, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
The Trump administration announced on Monday plans to audit $9 billion worth of grants to Harvard University over Jew-hatred. It has also reportedly paused $210 million in funding to Princeton University pending an investigation into campus Jew-hatred.
Five other Republican senators, 10 House Republicans and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) signed on as original co-sponsors.
“Any American educational institution authorizing, facilitating or otherwise supporting pro-terrorism activities should lose every cent of federal funding and subsidization,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) stated. “We must continue to send a resounding message that antisemitism has no place in America.”
