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U.S. Health Department Opens Investigation into American Psychological Association Over Antisemitism Allegations
On August 8 2025, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a complaint that has put the American Psychological Association (APA) under the microscope of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The allegation is that the APA has promoted antisemitic and anti‑Israel views through its educational programs and conferences, and that it has harassed Jewish members.
The APA is the nation’s largest professional organization for psychologists, boasting more than 190 000 members and an annual budget of roughly $134 million. Because it receives federal funding through grants, fellowships, and research contracts, the APA is bound by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Both statutes prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and other protected characteristics in programs that receive federal assistance.
According to the Brandeis Center complaint, APA members have reported that the association sponsors continuing‑education courses required for license renewal that teach a concept called “Decolonizing Therapy.” The complaint says the course frames Zionism as a mental illness and encourages psychologists to incorporate “psychic militancy” and the “Palestinian liberation struggle” into clinical practice. It also cites conference sessions that portray the October 7 attacks on Israel as assaults on military targets, as well as messages sent through APA listservs that “glorify Hamas, call for boycotts of Israel, compare Gaza to the Warsaw ghetto and pray for Israel’s destruction.”
The complaint further alleges that Jewish psychologists who raised concerns about antisemitism faced hostility and that their complaints were dismissed or ignored. One case cited in the complaint involved a therapist who was allegedly harassed at an APA conference and was not removed from the event, with the speaker scheduled to appear again at a future conference.
HHS officials have not yet issued a public statement on the investigation. The Brandeis Center, however, said that HHS notified the organization that it is examining whether the APA’s activities violate Title VI and Section 1557. The Center’s litigation staff attorney, Rebecca Harris, told a news outlet that HHS’s goal is to ensure that, if the APA continues to receive federal funds, it complies with federal civil‑rights obligations and does not discriminate against Jewish members.
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Section 1557 extends those protections to health programs and activities that receive federal funding, including those that provide mental‑health services. If the investigation finds that the APA has violated these laws, HHS could require the association to take remedial action, impose sanctions, or withhold future federal funding.
The APA has not yet responded to the complaint or to the investigation. The Brandeis Center has not indicated whether it will pursue additional legal action if the investigation does not lead to a satisfactory outcome.
The investigation is part of a broader trend of federal scrutiny of professional organizations that receive public money. Similar investigations have been launched against medical schools and other health‑care entities over allegations of antisemitic or discriminatory practices.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing. HHS has not set a timetable for its findings, and no definitive outcome has been announced. The APA’s compliance with Title VI and Section 1557 will be a key factor in determining whether it can continue to receive federal funding for its educational and research activities.
The case highlights the intersection of professional standards, federal civil‑rights law, and the responsibilities of organizations that rely on public money. The outcome will have implications for the APA’s membership, its continuing‑education programs, and the broader mental‑health community’s approach to diversity and inclusion.
The APA is the nation’s largest professional organization for psychologists, boasting more than 190 000 members and an annual budget of roughly $134 million. Because it receives federal funding through grants, fellowships, and research contracts, the APA is bound by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Both statutes prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and other protected characteristics in programs that receive federal assistance.
According to the Brandeis Center complaint, APA members have reported that the association sponsors continuing‑education courses required for license renewal that teach a concept called “Decolonizing Therapy.” The complaint says the course frames Zionism as a mental illness and encourages psychologists to incorporate “psychic militancy” and the “Palestinian liberation struggle” into clinical practice. It also cites conference sessions that portray the October 7 attacks on Israel as assaults on military targets, as well as messages sent through APA listservs that “glorify Hamas, call for boycotts of Israel, compare Gaza to the Warsaw ghetto and pray for Israel’s destruction.”
The complaint further alleges that Jewish psychologists who raised concerns about antisemitism faced hostility and that their complaints were dismissed or ignored. One case cited in the complaint involved a therapist who was allegedly harassed at an APA conference and was not removed from the event, with the speaker scheduled to appear again at a future conference.
HHS officials have not yet issued a public statement on the investigation. The Brandeis Center, however, said that HHS notified the organization that it is examining whether the APA’s activities violate Title VI and Section 1557. The Center’s litigation staff attorney, Rebecca Harris, told a news outlet that HHS’s goal is to ensure that, if the APA continues to receive federal funds, it complies with federal civil‑rights obligations and does not discriminate against Jewish members.
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Section 1557 extends those protections to health programs and activities that receive federal funding, including those that provide mental‑health services. If the investigation finds that the APA has violated these laws, HHS could require the association to take remedial action, impose sanctions, or withhold future federal funding.
The APA has not yet responded to the complaint or to the investigation. The Brandeis Center has not indicated whether it will pursue additional legal action if the investigation does not lead to a satisfactory outcome.
The investigation is part of a broader trend of federal scrutiny of professional organizations that receive public money. Similar investigations have been launched against medical schools and other health‑care entities over allegations of antisemitic or discriminatory practices.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing. HHS has not set a timetable for its findings, and no definitive outcome has been announced. The APA’s compliance with Title VI and Section 1557 will be a key factor in determining whether it can continue to receive federal funding for its educational and research activities.
The case highlights the intersection of professional standards, federal civil‑rights law, and the responsibilities of organizations that rely on public money. The outcome will have implications for the APA’s membership, its continuing‑education programs, and the broader mental‑health community’s approach to diversity and inclusion.
