House passes bill penalizing universities participating in boycotts?

In 1965 President Johnson signed a bill into federal law called the “Higher education act of 1965”, which essentially gave federal money to students, like pell grants. Well, today, September 3rd 2026, the United States House passed a bill amending that act, called “The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act”, to now include a “catch” for private universities. If a university backed by these federal funds supports a commercial boycott of Israel, the federal funds will be taken away as well as specific international funds. 

While some like Tim Walberg (Republican chair of the house education committee) claim this bill is to prevent discrimination to "Israeli institutions or Israeli students,” others feel that this could turn into a slippery slope and could hurt the freedom of speech given in the first amendment. 

This bill was voted 237-169 and will be moving into the Senate where if approved, then the president will choose to sign it into law or to veto it. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER

  • Tim Walberg is the Republican chair of the education committee so speaking on an issue that involves education is important and expected.

  • Considering the presidential agenda's stance on Israel as a U.S. ally it is very likely that if it moves through the senate this will be a bill signed into law. 

  • Although this may seem like an attack on a private university's voice, it's important to remember this bill only controls the funds given by the government and puts restraints on it. At the end of the day, a university could reject this money being given but likely they will not due to the millions of students that the money helps each year. (Remember if the students can not afford to go, the university does not get paid.)

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