Federal Civil Rights investigation opened into American Psychological Association over alleged anti-semitic discrimination. Investigation follows Brandeis Center complaint alleging that the APA promoted anti-Semitic discrimination, marginalized Jewish and Israeli psychologists, and permitted the use of federally funded programs and professional platforms to advance discriminatory practices and anti-Israel advocacy Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the American Psychological Association (APA) following a complaint filed by The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law alleging anti-Semitic discrimination within the nation's largest professional organization for psychologists. The investigation comes amid heightened concerns about anti-Semitism in the mental health profession, raised by Brandeis Center Chairman and CEO Kenneth L. Marcus in a USA Today op-ed last July and Litigation Staff Attorney Deena Margolis during a congressional hearing in May, which brought to light reports that Jewish and Israeli psychologists have faced exclusion, hostility, and discrimination in professional and clinical settings. The Brandeis Center urges HHS to review the APA's conduct as a recipient of federal funding, citing evidence that the organization promoted discriminatory and anti-Semitic practices, including "Decolonial Therapy," a treatment model increasingly used to frame Zionism as a mental illness and encourage patients to reject it; anti-Israel and anti-Semitic messaging disseminated through official channels; anti-Semitic continuing education and conference programming; and the marginalization of Jewish and Israeli psychologists. The complaints also allege that the APA tolerated harassment of Jewish members, questioned the legitimacy of recognizing Jews as an ethnic group, and ignored recommendations from its own anti-Semitism task force. The Brandeis Center's submissions documented reports from Jewish and Israeli psychologists who described being ostracized, marginalized, and subjected to hostility within APA-affiliated spaces. They also cited continuing education courses, conference presentations, organizational statements, listserv communications, and leadership actions that allegedly promoted anti-Semitic narratives or excluded Jewish viewpoints. In a June 2 letter to the Brandeis Center, OCR stated that it had determined there was sufficient authority and cause to investigate whether the APA engaged in discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The federal investigation marks a significant development in efforts to address rising anti-Semitism in healthcare and mental health settings and is believed to be the first HHS investigation arising from a Brandeis Center complaint alleging anti-Semitic discrimination within a major healthcare professional association. "The mental health profession is built on trust, ethics, and a commitment to do no harm," said Hon. Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center and the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education who ran the Office for Civil Rights during two administrations. "When one of the nation's most influential psychological organizations permits anti-Semitic discrimination and marginalizes Jewish professionals, federal civil rights scrutiny is entirely appropriate. We commend HHS for taking these allegations seriously and investigating whether federal law has been violated." The APA receives federal funding through grants, fellowships, research contracts, and other programs. Under federal law, recipients of federal financial assistance may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The Brandeis Center has been at the forefront of efforts to combat anti-Semitism in professional organizations, workplaces, and educational institutions. Recently, the organization filed a federal charge against the National Education Association (NEA) alleging anti-Semitic discrimination against Jewish educators, secured major settlements with UC Berkeley, Pomona College, the Nysmith School, and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, and reached precedent-setting agreements with Harvard University and Unilever over Ben & Jerry's attempt to boycott Israel, marking one of the largest defeats for the BDS movement. About The Brandeis Center The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit corporation established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. LDB engages in research, education, and legal advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere. It also empowers students by training them to understand their legal rights and educates administrators and employers on best practices to combat anti-Semitism. The Brandeis Center is not affiliated with the Massachusetts university, the Kentucky law school, or any of the other institutions that share the name and honor the memory of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice.

Broad coalition challenges unlawful Student Loan restrictions that target nurses, counselors, Public Health professionals, and educators. National Healthcare and Higher Education Associations and Unions Unite to Stop Threat to Thousands Who Rely on Federal Student Loans Washington, D.C. - A broad coalition representing professionals with degrees in nursing, counseling, public health, and education has united to challenge a new U.S. Department of Education (ED) policy that would unlawfully exclude a wide variety of professionals from adequate access to ED's Direct Loan program - the single largest source of federal financial assistance for postsecondary education. In a complaint filed today by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), National Education Association (NEA), Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the coalition is asking a court to block the rule, which violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward and Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC. The ED's redefinition of "professional" degrees excludes degrees in nursing, public health, education, marriage and family therapy, and other post-baccalaureate programs that prepare students for entry into critical professional programs that require specialized training. "Throughout the rulemaking process, AANP repeatedly advised the Department of Education that this policy would create serious barriers for future nurse practitioners and worsen health care workforce shortages," said AANP CEO Jon D. Fanning, MS, CAE, CNED. "Despite those concerns, the Department moved forward with a rule that limits access to federal student loans for graduate nursing students at a time when patients across the country are already struggling to access care. If fewer students are able to pursue nurse practitioner education, patients could face longer wait times, reduced health care options and greater difficulty accessing timely care. We are asking the court to protect the future health care workforce and the millions of patients who depend on nurse practitioners for care." "Recognizing nursing as a professional degree is critical to sustaining the nation's nursing workforce and protecting the health of all Americans," said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. "Lowering federal student loan limits creates a barrier for nurses seeking to advance their education to fill essential clinical, research, and teaching roles. Diminishing the population of nurse faculty will have a direct impact on the ability of nursing schools to graduate enough RNs to mitigate the ongoing nursing shortage. If the Administration is truly committed to supporting nurses and meeting the nation's healthcare needs, it must adopt federal policies that reflect these priorities and invest in nursing education." "Pediatric-focused advanced practice nurses are indispensable to the health and well-being of children, particularly in rural and underserved communities," said Dr. Felesia Bowen, President of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. "Policies that make graduate nursing education less affordable ultimately jeopardize children's health outcomes and weaken the pediatric workforce our nation urgently needs." "The Department of Education's final RISE rule is a direct attack on the students and families who depend on strong public schools. Cutting access to federal student loans for aspiring professionals in the education field is reckless and deeply harmful, especially when students are already feeling the impact of educator shortages in communities across the country," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "Many educator roles require highly specialized post-graduate degrees and certification requirements to serve students effectively. Excluding education degrees from the federal government's definition of 'professional' graduate degrees undermines the value of educators and discourages talented people from entering some of the most needed roles in the field. NEA will not stand by while policymakers create new financial barriers for future educators, especially students of color, first-generation college students, and those from working families who already face significant obstacles to entering the profession. Every student deserves qualified, committed educators, and our nation must strengthen the educator pipeline - not dismantle it." "At stake in this lawsuit is the future public health workforce. The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) has joined this suit on behalf of member institutions, their students, and the nation's health. By restricting federal student loan limits for students pursuing graduate degrees in public health, this rule threatens the pipeline of future professionals who protect communities, respond to health crises, and improve health outcomes for everyone," said Laura Magaña, PhD, President & CEO of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. "This issue extends beyond higher education and directly impacts access to mental healthcare in communities across the country," said Christine Michaels, CEO of AAMFT. "At a time when Mental Health America reports there is only one mental health provider for every 350 individuals nationwide, additional financial barriers for future clinicians risk deepening workforce shortages and making it even harder for families and individuals to access timely care, particularly in rural and underserved communities." In July 2025, Congress enacted legislation that changed ED's Direct Loan program, which eliminated one type of loan and imposed new borrowing limits on others. In the new law, Congress expressly preserved higher borrowing limits for students pursuing professional degrees. Months after the law was signed, and shortly before the new school year was about to begin, ED issued a new rule, "Reimagining and Improving Student Education - Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations," which drastically narrows what is considered a "professional" degree for the purposes of federal student loans. This rule threatens to block thousands of students from entering critical professions, worsening existing healthcare shortages in nursing, counseling, public health, education, and other essential fields. The result will not only harm students and educational institutions, but also undermine access to vital healthcare, mental health, and educational services for communities across the country. "This administration cannot unilaterally disqualify sectors of the workforce from vital financial aid - to not only deprive them of their dreams but also to deprive people in America who need their services," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. "Democracy Forward is honored to work with this impressive coalition of nurses, educators, counselors, therapists, and other dedicated professionals to stop this unlawful and harmful attempt to target students and professionals. Together, we will fight for people and communities in America." "The Department's decision to substantially narrow the programs subject to higher loan caps puts entrance to essential nursing, healthcare, therapy, and education professions out of reach for thousands of would-be students and undermines the professional programs themselves," said Lynn Eisenberg of Jacobson Lawyers Group, PLLC. "We are proud to support this broad coalition of associations standing up for their members and for the future of these important professions." The case is American Association of Nurse Practitioners, et al. v. Linda McMahon, et al. The Democracy Forward team working on the case includes Joel McElvain, Tsuki Hoshijima, Ryan Cooper, Jennie Kneedler, and Elena Goldstein. The team at Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC includes Daniel Jacobson, Lynn Eisenberg, and Nina Cahill. Read the complaint here. Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.