U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has criticized the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for what he describes as a failure to address antisemitism within the organization. Cassidy's comments focus on AFT Vice President Dr. Todd Wolfson, who he says has engaged in divisive rhetoric that downplays antisemitism and discrimination against Jewish faculty following the October 7 terror attacks.
“It is clear that Jewish members are not being defended. Jewish faculty members deserve to carry out their work free from discrimination,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “As an association with a national presence, it is concerning that AFT has not only failed to help solve this problem but has made it worse by allowing Dr. Wolfson to continue to serve in a leadership role.”
In a letter addressed to AFT President Randi Weingarten, Cassidy expressed concern about the culture within AFT and its partner organization, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), where Dr. Wolfson also serves as president. The letter notes that Jewish members of academic organizations across the country have felt marginalized and isolated. Cassidy stated that as a national union for educators, AFT is responsible for holding its leaders and partner organizations accountable and for ensuring that Jewish members' concerns are addressed.
Cassidy referenced a letter sent on March 6, 2025 by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) to AAUP. The letter raised concerns about a webinar titled “Scholasticide in Palestine,” which some Jewish members found ostracizing. The ADL/AEN letter stated that the webinar was “taking place within a wider context of the AAUP being perceived as increasingly moving in a virulently anti-Israel direction, and as a result, growing insensitive and even hostile to the concerns of its Jewish and Zionist members.”
Cassidy noted that since receiving this warning from ADL and AEN, Dr. Wolfson has not addressed these concerns and has instead exacerbated them. He cited an interview published by Inside Higher Ed on August 19 in which Dr. Wolfson described the “weaponization of antisemitism.” According to Cassidy’s letter, a former president of the University of California said this characterization “gaslights Jews, minimizing the alarms that Jewish communities have raised about discrimination on campus.” The letter also points out that AAUP has a duty to protect all members from marginalization, referencing data indicating that 73% of Jewish faculty have reported observing antisemitism from faculty, administrators, and staff on their campuses.
The letter also refers to political statements made by Dr. Wolfson, including opposition to sending weapons to Israel and referring to Vice President J.D. Vance as a fascist. Cassidy argued that such statements can stifle dissenting voices within academic associations and called for action from AFT leadership.
Cassidy’s letter concludes with several questions directed at AFT leadership regarding their response to concerns raised by ADL and their engagement with partner organizations like AAUP to combat antisemitism. He also asks whether AFT will publicly condemn Dr. Wolfson’s remarks.
“It is clear that Jewish members are not being defended, however. Jewish faculty members deserve to carry out their work free from discrimination. As an association with a national presence, it is concerning that AFT has not only failed to help solve this problem but has made it worse by allowing Dr. Wolfson to continue to serve in a leadership role,” Cassidy wrote.
AFT represents more than 270,000 higher education employees nationwide.
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