U.S. House passes bill to withhold federal aid from colleges that boycott Israel– www.thecollegefix.com

Congressman warns the bill could violate free speech

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to withhold federal aid from colleges and universities that boycott Israel.

The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 states that federally-funded institutions “will not engage in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of a major strategic partner of the United States.”

In addition, students cannot be “unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel,” the bill states.

The Republican-controlled chamber approved the measure by a 237–169 vote, with 33 Democrats supporting it and two Republicans opposing it, according to Inside Higher Ed. 

The legislation will now head to the U.S. Senate.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who sponsored the bill, said, “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’re from or what religion they practice.”