Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) announced on Friday the reintroduction of the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act, a bill he originally co-led with former Senator Marco Rubio last Congress.
The legislation aims to tackle the surge in antisemitic incidents at U.S. colleges following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, holding universities accountable for failing to protect Jewish students or risk losing federal funding.
The move builds on President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb antisemitism in higher education, including his decision today to cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University for its handling of antisemitic actions.
Scott’s bill targets what he calls an “unacceptable failure” by campus leaders to address anti-Israel mobs that have disrupted academic spaces and left Jewish students fearing for their safety since the 2023 attack by Iran-backed Hamas.
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“Jewish students were afraid to go to class, fearful of the violence these pro-terrorist mobs threatened,” Scott said in a statement. “President Trump is completely right to withhold federal funding from higher education institutions that refuse to enforce the law on their campuses and enable antisemitic hate to flourish, and I’m proud to lead this bill to build on his efforts.”
The Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act would strengthen Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination in federally funded programs. Key provisions include:
- Expanding Title VI to explicitly cover religious discrimination, including antisemitism, with exemptions for religious organizations.
- Imposing escalating penalties on colleges repeatedly violating Title VI.
- Ensuring antisemitic discrimination is addressed with the same enforcement rigor as other forms of bias.
- Requiring universities to notify students, faculty, and staff of Title VI violations.
- Tasking the U.S. Department of Education with overseeing private lawsuits against federally funded colleges over antisemitism.
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The legislation responds to a wave of incidents where antisemitic rhetoric and harassment spiked on campuses, often tied to anti-Israel protests. Scott pointed to instances of “anti-Israel mobs taking over academic buildings,” arguing that university leaders’ inaction violated federal law and endangered students.
Trump’s funding cut to Columbia University sets a precedent Scott’s bill seeks to codify nationwide. With antisemitism remaining a flashpoint in higher education, the reintroduced act signals a renewed push to enforce accountability—and a warning to colleges that federal dollars are on the line.
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