Congressional representatives from both sides of the aisle unveiled new legislation Wednesday designed to increase federal security funding for Jewish institutions and bolster government efforts to combat antisemitism, earning praise from prominent Jewish advocacy groups as threats against Jewish communities continue nationwide.
The House legislation, spearheaded by Reps. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, and Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, serves as the House counterpart to the Jewish American Security Act that Sens. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat, and James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, introduced in the Senate last month.
The proposed legislation would provide authorization for up to $1 billion annually through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which assists houses of worship, educational institutions, community centers, and other vulnerable nonprofit organizations in funding security improvements. While the program serves institutions across all faiths, Jewish organizations have been particularly vocal advocates for its expansion.
Additionally, the legislation would permit grant funds to cover security personnel costs, broaden law enforcement protection around religious facilities, mandate that the Department of Education create a Title VI framework for addressing antisemitism on college campuses, and establish transparency mandates for major social media platforms regarding their management of antisemitic material.
According to Jewish Insider, which initially reported the House bill’s introduction, Goldman stated: “Words of condemnation are no longer enough. Since the October 7th attacks, there has been a systematic failure in Congress and in our communities to counter the threat posed by surging antisemitism across this country.”
Jewish advocacy organizations have urged Congress to increase security assistance following years of escalating reported antisemitic incidents, encompassing synagogue attacks, campus conflicts, property damage, online harassment, and violence connected to anger surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, the organization’s 2025 audit documented 6,274 antisemitic incidents, which included 203 physical assaults and three murders.
Greenblatt emphasized: “The data is unambiguous: Jewish Americans are under threat in their communities, on their campuses and online, and the federal government must act.”
Advocates indicate the legislation aims not only to strengthen physical security measures at Jewish facilities but also to enhance federal enforcement, monitoring, and oversight in areas where antisemitism has become increasingly prevalent.
