Amid a drop in membership after the Supreme Court ended mandatory union dues, the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions have spent tens of millions of dollars on left-leaning causes, according to a new report from a conservative watchdog group.
The nonprofit Defending Ed released the report this week after reviewing the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers’ donations to left-wing and far-left organizations. The group found that the two unions spent a total of $43.5 million since 2022 to support state and federal political action committees and other ideologically left-leaning groups, including D.C.-based think tanks.
“It is clear that the teachers unions’ priorities are advancing far-left politics and radical social justice issues, not the education of children,” Defending Ed researcher Rhyen Staley told Fox News Digital. “This is a slap in the face to families and teachers who want to focus on helping students improve their reading and math skills. It is time that Congress acts to stop this obscene redistribution of public monies to advance left-wing identity politics.”
Left-wing philanthropic groups such as the Tides Network, New Venture Fund, Sixteen-Thirty Fund, and Future Forward—all of which supported political causes, including Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential run after President Joe Biden dropped out—received nearly $1.5 million from the unions, according to the report.
The unions also gave large amounts to groups that back left-leaning political candidates, including the Democratic Governors Association and the House and Senate Majority PACs.
Other donations went to major left-wing think tanks, including the Center for American Progress and its 501(c)(4) branch, which received close to $1 million from the two unions since 2022.
Aaron Withe, an expert on public-sector unions, noted that the National Education Association spends less than 10% of its budget on what he calls “representational activities.” Meanwhile, the union spends 38% of its budget on contributions to left-leaning groups, lobbying, and political gifts.
“You’d think that with the decline in union membership, they’d start offering more value to members,” Withe told Fox News Digital. “Instead, they are focusing on the radical interests of some members by promoting issues like men in women’s sports, transitioning minors, antisemitism, and other ideological positions.”
He added that this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” as many statewide and local teachers unions are also funding similar causes.
