In a bold move to hold universities accountable amid a surge of antisemitism on campuses, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) have introduced the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act — legislation that would cut off federal funding from higher education institutions that encourage, facilitate, or tolerate antisemitism.
The legislation comes as Columbia University faces a historic crackdown from the federal government. Following months of complaints and inaction regarding the harassment of Jewish students, several federal agencies — including the Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services — announced the cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts with Columbia.
“Any American educational institution authorizing, facilitating, or otherwise supporting pro-terrorism activities should lose every cent of federal funding and subsidization,” Senator Britt said in a statement. “We must continue to send a resounding message that antisemitism has no place in America.”
Senator Scott echoed the urgency of the effort: “The intention of taxpayer dollars for universities is to educate students, not promote and foster hate. We’ve witnessed campuses across our nation turn into cesspools for anti-Jewish, anti-Israel activists. Federal funding is a privilege and not a right.”
The bill represents a growing federal movement to confront antisemitism in higher education, particularly as violent rhetoric, threats, and discriminatory actions have surged since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. Britt, who traveled to the region in the aftermath of the atrocities, has remained a steadfast advocate for the Jewish community.
In addition to this latest bill, Senator Britt recently reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would direct the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when assessing campus-related incidents — a move long called for by Jewish advocacy groups.
Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
In November 2024, Senator Britt published an open letter to Jewish students amid growing reports of violence and harassment on U.S. campuses, writing, “While your administrators may not have your backs, we do. And we always will.”
As university leaders nationwide face mounting pressure to act, this bill places a clear choice before them: protect students and uphold federal law — or lose federal funding.