Two Senate Republicans wrote to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona Thursday, raising concerns about federal funding for Middle East studies going to anti-Israel professors on college campuses.

The letter, from Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) focused on national resource centers and foreign language scholarships provided by the Department of Education.

A recent report by a nonprofit group that reviews government spending, claimed that $22.1 million of those funds went to Middle East studies programs and, in particular, to professors with opinions vehement anti-Israeli.

“The Biden-Harris administration should not funnel American taxpayer dollars to extremist groups.

professors who instill in their students hatred of America’s strongest ally – and only

democracy – in the Middle East,” the senators wrote. “This potential abuse of taxpayer dollars is not only wasteful, but may run counter to the intent of the programs and the law. »

According to the report and letter, a grant to Columbia University supported a course taught by Professor Joseph Massad, who hailed the Oct. 7 Hamas attack as “a resounding victory for the Palestinian resistance.”

The report also states that a Georgetown University professor, Fida Adely, who is a leader in anti-Israel boycott efforts, also received a federal grant.

“When the Department directs taxpayer dollars to professors who demonize the Jewish State and support organizations linked to terrorism, it raises the question of whether certain academic institutions are complying with Congressional mandates set forth in Title VI,” the senators said.

The lawmakers asked how the ministry would rectify the situation, whether it would audit other grant recipients and whether it would cut off additional funding to institutions “that abuse this funding to indoctrinate their students with anti-Israel propaganda.”
Such grants for Middle East studies programs could face increased scrutiny from the incoming Trump administration’s Department of Education, according to Kenneth Marcuswho served in the Department of Education during the first Trump administration.