Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025

The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025 would tighten federal funding rules for colleges and universities to discourage nonexpressive commercial boycotts of certain U.S. partners and to promote academic participation with those partners. Specifically, it would: - Prohibit colleges and universities that participate in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of a “major strategic partner” from receiving certain federal funds and require annual certifications attesting they will not engage in such boycotts. - Require institutions that participate in Title IV programs to certify annually that they will not boycott major strategic partners and will allow both U.S. students/faculty and students/faculty from those partners to participate in programs on the same terms as other countries. - Extend similar certification and funding eligibility rules to Title VI programs, with ineligibility for funds if the institution fails to certify. - Include a congressional statement of sense that limiting cooperation with major strategic partners undermines security, stability, and economic vitality. The bill defines “major strategic partner” largely by reference to a list in the Anti-Boycott Act framework and excludes certain exemptions; it also adds enforcement and public disclosure requirements for institutions that fail to certify.