# Plain Language Summary: Define to Defeat Act of 2025

This bill establishes a specific definition of antisemitism that federal agencies and courts must use when enforcing civil rights laws. The definition comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), a global organization, and includes examples of anti-Jewish discrimination and harassment. The bill's supporters argue that having one clear, consistent definition will make it easier for the government to identify and address antisemitic incidents, rather than having different agencies use different standards that might miss some forms of anti-Jewish hate.

The bill requires federal departments and agencies to include this antisemitism definition in their anti-discrimination training materials so employees understand what constitutes antisemitic behavior. When federal courts hear cases involving antisemitism, judges must also explain this definition to juries. Additionally, when federal agencies investigate potential civil rights violations based on someone's Jewish identity or connection to Judaism, they must consider whether antisemitism motivated the violation. This applies to existing civil rights laws covering voting rights, employment, education, housing, and other areas.

The bill includes important safeguards to clarify what it doesn't do. It doesn't give federal agencies any new powers beyond what they already have under existing civil rights laws, and it explicitly protects First Amendment rights to free speech. The bill also states it won't change the legal standards agencies use to determine if a violation actually occurred—it only tells them to consider antisemitism as a potential motivating factor when reviewing cases involving Jewish people. Supporters see this as a tool to better protect Jewish Americans from discrimination, while critics have raised concerns about how the definition might affect discussions about Israel and Palestinian issues.