E&W Blog

Today, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to examine how the world’s oldest hatred, antisemitism, has taken root among the very people tasked with saving lives—America’s medical professionals. 

Subcommittee Chairman Rick Allen (R-GA) started the hearing by highlighting examples of unions taking public stances condemning Israel of genocide, making Jewish medical professionals and patients feel isolated and unsafe. 

“For example, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, represents thousands of medical residents, interns, and fellows across the country. After the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians, CIR adopted a series of resolutions condemning Israel for genocide. One resolution endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and called on CIR members to encourage teaching hospitals to cut all ties with Israel—including financial investments, pension funds, retirement accounts, academic partnerships, and intellectual property relationships,” he said. 

Witnesses discussed how in the wake of October 7, Jewish doctors, residents, nurses, and medical students have faced enormous hostility from medical labor unions and academic environments that are meant to support them. 

“Within American health care, a 2025 peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Religion and Health found that 75 percent of Jewish-identifying medical students and professionals reported exposure to antisemitism…This treatment comes in addition to the already high stakes work environments healthcare professionals must navigate,” said Ms. Eveline Shekhman, Chief Executive Officer at American Jewish Medical Association.

In an exchange with Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Ms. Deena Margolies, Litigation Staff Attorney at Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, eloquently explained how contemporary antisemitism goes hand in hand with criticism of Israel. “When you demonize Israel…or you hold it to a standard that you hold no other country to and you collectively blame Jewish people for the actions of Israel and you alienate and marginalize…that is contemporary manifestation of antisemitism,” she said.

Very few unions have criticized the actions of other nations, but many have been critical of Israel.  

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Dr. Jacob Agronin, Cardiology Fellow, discussed how antisemitism in health care settings can impact patient care. “I do worry it extends to patients—it totally impacts patient care. Should patients’ family members have to worry about speaking Hebrew…over fear of how they may be treated differently by some of their doctors that support [BDS movements],” he said.

Ideological activism is overshadowing the core mission of patient care and professional representation in health care.

Democrats once again voiced their frustration with Republicans for holding another antisemitism hearing. But as Rep. Allen put it, “I’m frustrated, too. But until Jewish workers can expect dignity and safety in their workplaces—and until unions return to their core mission of representing all workers—we cannot afford to stop talking about it.”

Bottom line: Republicans are committed to combatting antisemitism in American hospitals and doctor’s offices. It could literally be a matter of life and death.