Anti-BDS Bill Pulled From US Congress Following Backlash

Washington (Quds News Network)- An anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) bill scheduled for a vote on Monday has been pulled from the U.S. Congress following strong backlash from several allies of President Donald Trump. The bill, if passed, would have made it a federal crime for Americans to participate in boycotts targeting the Israeli occupation.

Two members of Congress confirmed the bill’s withdrawal on Monday.

“I’m told we are no longer voting on this. It’s been pulled,” Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X on Monday.

I’m told we are no longer voting on this.

It’s been pulled.

Now let’s vote on the promises we made the American people, the agenda that gave us the historic victory in November 2024, President Trump’s EOs, and make DOGE cuts permanent with recessions!!! https://t.co/1ginzOXx6f

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 4, 2025

Congressman Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican who is critical of Israel’s influence on Capitol Hill, also confirmed the bill “has been pulled from the schedule for this week”.

Apparently HR 867 has been pulled from the schedule for this week. Thank you for your vocal opposition on this platform. It was a ridiculous bill that our leadership should have never scheduled for a vote. https://t.co/S0WYKIhi3i

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 5, 2025

The bill H.R. 867, known as the International Governmental Organization (IGO) Anti-Boycott Act. If passed, this bill would make it a federal crime for Americans to participate in boycotts of the occupation state of Israel, including Israeli settlements, promoted by international organizations.

H.R. 867 expands an existing law known as the Anti-Boycott Act, which was established in the 1970s. The original law prohibited U.S. citizens from complying with boycotts imposed by foreign governments, specifically targeting boycotts against Israel. However, the new bill goes a step further by targeting boycotts promoted not only by foreign governments but also by IGOs such as the United Nations and the European Union.

The bill would impose penalties, including fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to 20 years for those found guilty of supporting such boycotts. The legislation, framed as part of a broader effort to combat ‘antisemitism’, is a direct attack on Americans’ right to protest and express dissent.

It was drafted by Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat Josh Gottheimer in January, and co-sponsored by 22 other lawmakers from the Republican and Democratic parties.

Although Trump’s Republican Party has been leading legislative efforts to crack down on boycotts of Israel, over the past days, several conservatives close to the US president voiced opposition to the bill.

“But what I don’t understand is why we are voting on a bill on behalf of other countries and not the President’s executive orders that are FOR OUR COUNTRY???” Green wrote on X on Sunday ahead of the vote.

I will be voting NO.

It is my job to defend American’s rights to buy or boycott whomever they choose without the government harshly fining them or imprisoning them.

But what I don’t understand is why we are voting on a bill on behalf of other countries and not the President’s… pic.twitter.com/faqfUUTQdD

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 4, 2025

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also denounced the bill as a “threat” to “First Amendment free speech rights”.

“The right to boycott is an intrinsic part of the First Amendment and a cornerstone of American democracy – from resisting British colonial rule to supporting civil rights and opposing apartheid in South Africa. That right must not be infringed,” CAIR said.

On this particular issue, she's right. This is not an America First bill. It's just the latest Israel First bill. Our government must stop shredding the First Amendment for the benefit of the Israeli government. https://t.co/wHwgV117ms

— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) May 5, 2025

Charlie Kirk, an influential conservative media personality, on Sunday launched a campaign against the bill on X, saying the “right to speak freely is the birthright of all Americans”.

Tomorrow the House will vote on HR 867, a bill that will criminalize private boycotts of Israel. Fines up to $1,000,000 and prison time up to 20 years.

Bills like this only create more antisemitism, and play into growing narratives that Israel is running the US government.

In…

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 4, 2025

Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser and influential right-wing media personality, backed the comments of Kirk and Greene, writing, “Fact check: True” and “Agreed” in response to their statements, respectively.

Agreedhttps://t.co/6SJ25UuSYi

— STEVE BANNON 🇺🇸 (@Stevebannon_sk) May 4, 2025

“Americans have the right to boycott, and penalizing this risks free speech. I reject and vehemently condemn antisemitism but I cannot violate the first amendment,” Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, wrote on X.

H.R. 867, up for a vote tomorrow, aims to curb antisemitism but threatens First Amendment rights.

Americans have the right to boycott, and penalizing this risks free speech. I reject and vehemently condemn antisemitism but I cannot violate the first amendment.

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) May 4, 2025

The rejection of the bill comes as the Trump administration continues with its push to target criticism of and protests against Israel, especially on anti-genocide college campuses.

Since Trump took office, the US government has revoked the visas of hundreds of students for activism against Israel’s war on Gaza. Several students, including legal permanent residents, have been jailed over allegations of anti-Semitism and “spreading Hamas propaganda”.