House Republicans on the Education and Workforce Committee have released an investigative report accusing the American Psychological Association (APA) of tolerating antisemitism and dismissing the concerns of Jewish psychologists. Released on October 29, 2026, by Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, the document stems from an investigation launched in December 2025. The committee alleges that radical activist-academics have co-opted the organization to promote ideologies that demonize Israel, minimize Hamas terrorism, and portray Jewish people as white oppressors.
In response to the allegations, APA President Wendi Williams stated that the association unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all forms. She noted that since concerns were raised, the APA has taken steps to ensure Jewish members can participate safely, including holding listening sessions. The organization also passed a resolution condemning antisemitism in February 2026 and published a special issue of its flagship journal, American Psychologist, dedicated to the topic in May–June 2026. However, the House report criticizes these measures as watered down and insufficient.
A central focus of the investigation is the APA's internal handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. According to internal emails obtained by the committee, APA leaders consulted the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psy) while drafting their public statement. AMENA-Psy leaders advised against using the term "terrorism," arguing it was one-sided and racist. Consequently, the APA's final statement did not reference terrorism. The report also highlights internal communications where leaders echoed biased perspectives; for instance, then-APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes compared the Hamas attacks to the death of George Floyd, while other officials dismissed antisemitism complaints with exasperated remarks.
The report further details clashes over "decolonial psychology," a framework the committee argues views Israel as an illegitimate settler-colonial state and pathologizes Zionism. In 2025, American Psychologist published a special issue on this topic featuring an article that referred to "Palestinian freedom fighters" and described Israel as a "settler colonial" state. The decision to publish this piece reportedly prompted the resignation of an editor for the subsequent antisemitism special issue, who cited the lack of scholarly rigor in the earlier work.
Internal disputes also arose regarding resolutions and the recognition of a Jewish ethnic psychological association (EPA). In February 2026, the APA's Council of Representatives approved a revised Resolution on Antisemitism by a vote of 127–37. The House committee criticized this measure as watered down, noting it included a clause regarding the "weaponization of antisemitism" that they argue greenlights antisemitic rhetoric. Simultaneously, efforts to recognize a Jewish EPA faced opposition from other ethnic minority groups within the APA, who argued that Jewish individuals do not face the same systemic oppression as People of Color and that recognizing such an association would undermine solidarity.
These congressional findings follow a recommendation by a Department of Education accreditation advisory committee to suspend federal recognition for the APA's Commission on Accreditation due to a failure to address a pervasive culture of antisemitism. The APA has firmly rejected this recommendation, with officials disputing the claim of a pervasive culture and noting only two complaints received in accredited programs. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) supported the House findings, calling for an independent investigation and stronger policies to protect Jewish psychologists.
Sources: PsyPost.