The United States Congress is currently investigating the American Psychological Association (APA) over allegations of antisemitism and discrimination against Jewish members. The inquiry, initiated by the House Committee on Education and Workforce, aims to address claims that Jewish professionals within the APA have faced harassment and ostracism due to their identity and beliefs.
Committee Chairman Tim Walberg emphasized in a letter to APA President Dr. Debra Kawahara that the APA represents over 172,000 psychologists, researchers, and students nationwide. He highlighted reports from Jewish members who stated they have been marginalized and their concerns largely ignored. The committee’s scrutiny emerged amid broader concerns regarding antisemitism in various sectors, including the mental health field.
In a February 2025 open letter, the group Psychologists Against Antisemitism raised significant issues, stating that there is “insensitivity towards Jews” and a troubling minimization of aggression against them. Reports indicate that APA-affiliated newsletters have, at times, included defenses of Hamas and have offered educational credits for conferences featuring speakers who endorsed violence against Jewish people, as well as antisemitic tropes.
The allegations stretch further, with claims that a former APA division president suggested that “Zionism is a mental illness” and called for the destruction of Zionism, using derogatory language towards Israelis. According to Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and a member of the American Jewish Medical Association, this congressional investigation is long overdue. She noted that antisemitism has been increasing in the mental health profession for years.
Dr. Julie Ancis, a distinguished professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and president of Psychologists Against Antisemitism, recounted that in 2016, her division adopted a statement characterizing Israel as an “apartheid” state. Jewish members’ concerns were dismissed, leading to a perception that anti-Israel perspectives were disproportionately represented within leadership.
Ancis pointed out that since that time, antisemitism has become more embedded within the APA. She observed that following the events of October 7, 2023, rhetoric accusing Israel of colonialism and genocide has intensified, with little regard for the victims involved. “Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric, statements, and actions have been normalized,” she stated.
Dr. Bar-Halpern expressed concern that the conflation of activism with clinical practice risks compromising the field’s ethical standards. She described how Jewish clinicians and clients report feeling their pain and fears are minimized or dismissed. Some therapists have faced professional repercussions simply for identifying as Zionists, highlighting a disturbing trend of silencing within the profession.
In light of the ongoing investigation, Ancis hopes Congress will enforce several key changes, including the implementation of inclusive language standards, a return to empirical psychology, and addressing antisemitic rhetoric in APA communications. She also advocates for monitoring professional training materials to eliminate content harmful to Jewish individuals and establishing clear consequences for violations of APA’s ethical principles regarding discrimination.
As the investigation unfolds, the APA is expected to submit relevant documentation to Congress by January 2, 2026. The outcome of this inquiry could have significant implications for the future of mental health care and the treatment of Jewish professionals within the field. Establishing a non-discriminatory health care system remains crucial, as current conditions raise concerns about the inclusivity and integrity of mental health services in America.
