Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025 aims to regulate how colleges and universities receive federal funding under the Higher Education Act. Specifically, it prohibits institutions participating in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of major strategic partners of the United States, like certain countries, from receiving certain federal funds. It also requires institutions to certify that students and faculty can participate in academic programs in these strategic partners without unreasonable restrictions, mirroring access for students from other foreign countries. Finally, it establishes a list of institutions that fail to comply with these requirements.
Key provisions
- Institutions must certify annually that they will not engage in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of major strategic partners.
- The Secretary of Education will publicly list institutions that fail to provide the required certification.
- Institutions must certify that students and faculty can participate in academic programs in major strategic partners without restrictions.
- The definition of ‘major strategic partner’ includes countries designated by law and entities licensed or regulated by those countries.
- Institutions not complying with the certification requirements will be ineligible for certain federal funds.
- The Act amends the Higher Education Act to include these provisions.
- Congress expresses a sense that limitations on cooperative efforts with strategic partners do not harm U.S. security or economic vitality.
Who is affected
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