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House passes anti-boycott bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 on Thursday, voting 237 to 169, to block federal aid to any college or university that boycotts Israel.
“passed the Republican-led chamber 237 to 169”
The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 and would prohibit institutions that engage in a “nonexpressive commercial boycott” of Israel from receiving federal student aid.
It also requires colleges to ensure that their students are not “unreasonably obstructed” from participating in academic programs in Israel, and that Israeli students and faculty are fully permitted to participate in theirs.
The legislation now must pass the Senate and be signed by the president in order to become law, according to Inside Higher Ed and The Media Line.
Foxx frames it as consequences
Republican Virginia Foxx, who co-sponsored the bill, said, “The antisemitic rot that has corroded college campuses must be eradicated—enough is enough,” as she celebrated the House vote.
Foxx also argued the measure “takes a strong stand against the BDS movement on college campuses across the nation,” framing the bill as a response to boycotts targeting Israel.
Democrats who opposed the measure warned it could violate the First Amendment, with Virginia Democrat Bobby Scott telling reporters, “we should not do so by punishing protected speech or conflating a student’s view with university policies.”
Supporters and critics both pointed to the bill’s focus on federal funding eligibility, with The Media Line noting it “doesn’t prohibit demonstrations or sanction speech,” while Inside Higher Ed said the legislation is intended to curb campus antisemitism after pro-Palestinian protests following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Senate vote and campus fallout
The bill’s next step is Senate consideration after the House vote, with the House measure described as heading to the Senate in both The Guardian and House.gov.
“prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal student aid if they engage in commercial and academic boycotts”
House.gov said the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act “prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal student aid if they engage in commercial and academic boycotts,” and it described the legislation as authored by Josh Gottheimer and Virginia Foxx.
Gottheimer said, “My bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Foxx is narrow and targeted — it doesn’t touch anyone’s speech, protest, or academic debate,” while The Guardian reported that Bobby Scott criticized the bill as potentially conflicting with first amendment protections of protest.
Opponents argued the House action could chill political expression, and The Guardian reported that student and faculty groups at some universities intensified calls for administrators to participate in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement after the 7 October attack and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.