US House Passes GOP-Backed Bill Targeting Universities That Boycott Israel, 33 Democrats Vote Yes

The US House has passed a Republican-backed bill that could cut off certain federal funds to universities that take part in boycotts of Israel.

The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed on Thursday by a vote of 237 to 169, sending the measure to the Senate for further consideration.

The vote was mostly along party lines, but 33 Democrats joined 203 Republicans in support, along with one independent, while two Republicans voted against it.

The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to bar institutions that participate in a 'nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel' from receiving certain federal higher education funds.

It would also require schools in certain federal programmes to certify that students are not unreasonably barred from participating in academic programmes in Israel.

In practice, the measure targets universities that participate in certain commercial boycotts of Israel without a valid business justification, while separately requiring some institutions to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programmes in Israel.

Republicans Frame It as Anti-Discrimination

Republican supporters said the bill is aimed at preventing discrimination against Israel, Israeli institutions and Israeli students.

'This legislation is about a simple principle: our colleges and universities should not discriminate against Israel,' said Rep. Tim Walberg, the Republican chair of the House education committee. He added that federal taxpayer dollars should not support institutions that engage in such discrimination.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who introduced the bill, has described it as a response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS. Foxx introduced the bill with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat and prominent pro-Israel member of his party.

Gottheimer called the proposal 'narrow and tailored' and said no student or professor should lose access to research, study abroad programmes or academic partnerships because of their religion or country of origin.

Democrats Split Over Free Speech

Opponents warned that the measure could punish protected political expression and further restrict pro-Palestinian activism on campuses. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the top Democrat on the education committee, argued that the bill is unnecessary because no American college or university administration has adopted BDS policies.

'So, we should combat antisemitism wherever it occurs, but we should not do so by punishing protected speech or conflating a student's view with university policies,' Scott said.

Critics say the legislation blurs the line between institutional policy and campus advocacy. Scott argued that while student and faculty groups have pushed universities to cut ties with Israel over the Gaza war and Israel's treatment of Palestinians, those campaigns have not resulted in university administrations formally adopting BDS policies.

Vote Exposes Party Tensions

The vote highlighted growing Democratic divisions over Israel ahead of the midterm elections. Many Democrats have become more critical of Israel's conduct in Gaza, while others remain strongly supportive of Israel. In July, 103 House Democrats backed an amendment by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie that would have halted $3.3 billion in planned military aid to Israel, although the measure was defeated 104-314.

The bill also followed a procedural fight earlier in the week, when Democratic Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington joined Republicans to advance the rule allowing it and several other measures to reach the floor.

The legislation must still pass the Senate before it can become law. Opponents have raised First Amendment and academic-freedom concerns that could become significant if the measure advances.