The National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union, recently adopted resolutions that call into question its political neutrality, and thus its bias with regard to overseeing education, according to leaked documents.
In a series of tweets, education activist Corey A. DeAngelis posted images of a document that he said outlined the NEA’s goals for the immediate future. Notably, one plank pledges to “defended democracy against Trump’s embrace of fascism by using the term fascism in NEA materials to correctly characterize Donald Trump’s program and actions.”
The NEA has an outsized influence on public schools across the country. Founded in 1857, NEA started as a professional trade association that would later merge with other associations representing education and public employees. It was eventually granted federal union status by Congress and today represents three million members nationwide.
Recent efforts within Alaska by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to provide for alternatives to taxpayer-funded schools have been hotly contested, resulting in a veto-override, and are the topic of an upcoming legislative session. The NEA-backed initiative to re-introduce a “Defined Benefit” package is likewise controversial. The NEA forms one of the strongest and most well-funded lobbies in Juneau.
In recent times, the NEA adopted a more adversarial approach to advocacy, calling for strikes against the people as leverage for increased funding, and directly engaging in political campaigns. Today, the group regularly faces accusations that it prioritizes its interests ahead of the people it is fundamentally intended to serve. Namely, students.
The documents obtained by DeAngelis appear to support that criticism. For example, one resolution that was adopted states: “NEA declares its support for and participation in the mass democratic movement against Trump’s authoritarianism and violations of humans rights.” It then affirms that it supports the “No Kings” movement.
Each item on the document is followed by a section called “cost implications,” which details the additional funding that would be required to bring it to fruition. That is worth mentioning, given the exodus of dues-paying members that the union has suffered in recent years.
Between 2009 and 2024, the NEA lost some 400,000 members. According to an analysis by Illinois Policy, just nine percent of its spending went toward representing teachers during this period, with the bulk being spent on “politics, administration and other union leader priorities.” Meanwhile, its officers and employees enjoy six-figure salaries, spending millions on travel and food for “unspecified purposes.”
According to DeAngelis, the NEA decided to keep its newly adopted resolutions private this year, raising further questions about transparency.
Not long after news of the convention’s agenda became public, Rep. Josh Brechen, an Oklahoma Republican, announced that he was working with other lawmakers to terminate the NEA’s special status. He is joined in that effort by GOP Rep. Mark Harris and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who introduced the National Education Association Charter Repeal Act, which would revoke the union’s congressional charter.
“Congress established the NEA in 1906 to support America’s teachers and strengthen our schools, but it has abandoned that mission in favor of a radical agenda,” Harris said in a statement.
“From branding President Trump a fascist to embracing divisive gender ideology and walking away from efforts to fight antisemitism, the NEA has become nothing more than a partisan advocacy group. Since the NEA is clearly not prioritizing students, parents or even teachers, it’s time to remove Congress’ seal of approval from this rogue organization.”
In her own statement, Blackburn said that “teachers’ unions have shown they’ll put their political agenda ahead of students’ needs.”
“The National Education Association has made it crystal clear it’s a partisan organization, and it shouldn’t be rewarded with a federal charter that platforms woke gender ideology, antisemitism, and left-wing propaganda. Our students deserve better.”
The NEA-Alaska affiliate did not respond to a request for comment for this report.
