In response to a reported surge of antisemitic incidents on college campuses, U.S. Senator Ashley Moody has introduced the RECLAIM Act, legislation designed to withdraw and recoup federal funding from universities that violate students’ civil rights, particularly those of Jewish students.
The bill—Resisting Educational Complicity in Lawlessness And Institutional Misconduct (RECLAIM)—marks one of Senator Moody’s first major legislative efforts since joining the Senate.
The measure targets institutions of higher education found to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.
“We MUST claw back any funds from universities that do not protect the civil rights of Jewish students—including taking back any unspent money,” Senator Moody said in a statement. “Too many woke schools prioritize support for Hamas over their duty to protect the civil rights of ALL students, and it’s time they are held accountable.”
Moody’s bill would significantly expand federal enforcement authority by:
- Extending funding prohibitions from specific programs to entire institutions found in violation of Title VI.
- Authorizing the federal government to claw back previously awarded funds from the time a civil rights violation occurred—even if the funds have already been spent, by recovering the equivalent value from the university’s endowment or financial assets.
- Imposing a federal funding moratorium on institutions under court-issued injunctions related to Title VI violations, requiring certification of compliance before funding resumes.
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The announcement comes amid growing national debate over free speech and antisemitism on college campuses, particularly in the wake of violent demonstrations and controversial university responses to the Israel–Hamas conflict.
“Congress should no longer subsidize hate,” Moody said. “We must claw back federal funding from campuses that violate students’ civil rights—and that’s exactly what this bill will do.”
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