Rep. Barry Moore Introduces ‘Define to Defeat Act of 2025’ to Clarify Antisemitism in Federal Law

Representative Barry Moore (R‑AL1) has introduced the Define to Defeat Act of 2025, a bill that would require federal agencies to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism in enforcing U.S. civil rights laws.

Moore emphasized the urgent need for the bill in a statement released June 23:

“From the halls of our college campuses to the halls of our government, hatred toward the Jewish people has no place in America. My bill ensures that federal agencies adopt a clear and consistent definition of antisemitism so we can identify it, confront it, and prosecute criminal behavior when necessary. Our judicial system needs this clarity now more than ever to properly confront the record‑breaking levels of disturbing antisemitic attacks in our nation.”

If adopted, the bill would direct federal departments and agencies to:

• Use the IHRA definition in anti-discrimination training and education
• Instruct juries using this standard in civil and criminal cases involving antisemitism
• Consider the IHRA definition when investigating alleged civil rights violations tied to Jewish identity

The IHRA definition, adopted on May 26, 2016, describes antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and lists contemporary examples such as denial of Jewish self‑determination, Holocaust distortion, and conspiracy accusations.

Moore‘s bill resembles previous efforts like the Define to Defeat Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R‑NY), which sought to mandate the federal use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The 2o24 version of the bill failed to move out of the House Committees to which it was referred.

Supporters of similar bills have argued that IHRA definition offers a uniform legal tool to address rising antisemitic incidents. However, in 2024, a bill that would have required the Department of Education to adopt the IHRA definition in Title VI discrimination investigations—the Antisemitic Awareness Act (ASA)—came under intense criticism from a number of groups. Christian conservatives such as Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk expressed the belief that it would criminalize parts of the Bible. Civil libertarians and other critics—including The Jerusalem Post’s Nadav Tamir—have claimed the definition is “overly broad and vague.” Constitutionalists like Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Senator Rand Paul (T-KY) did not support the ASA because of concerns that it, and the IHRA definition it contained, impinged on 1st Amendment rights.

The ASA passed the House by a 320–91 margin in May 2024, but failed to advance in the Senate.

Moore’s proposal reflects a broader national trend towards adopting the IHRA definition. In April, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams signed an Executive Order adopting the IHRA definition for all municipal agencies, citing a sharp uptick in antisemitic hate crimes—nearly 57% of NYPD-recorded bias offenses are directed at Jewish residents.

The Define to Defeat Act of 2025 has been referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Education and the Workforce, where it now awaits action.

The full text of the Define to Defeat Act of 2025 may be found HERE.