COLUMBIA Act of 2025

This bill would require the U.S. Department of Education to place independent antisemitism monitors at colleges and universities that both receive federal higher‑education funds and have a high amount of antisemitic incidents, based on data from the Department’s civil rights office. The Department must set up this program within 180 days of the law taking effect and create a monitor agreement that each school must follow. Schools would cover the reasonable costs of their assigned monitor.

Monitors would review how the school is addressing antisemitism, post public quarterly updates on the school’s and the Department’s websites, and issue yearly reports with recommended actions, policies, or sanctions to reduce antisemitism. Annual reports would go to Congress, the Department of Education, the school, and state or local officials as needed.

Key points

• Who is affected: Colleges and universities that get federal higher‑education funds and have high levels of antisemitic activity; students and staff at those schools.
• What changes: Independent monitors are assigned; schools must cooperate, pay reasonable monitor costs, and share public progress reports; annual recommendations can include actions, policies, or sanctions.
• When: The monitoring program must be set up within 180 days after the law is enacted.