A delegate at this year’s National Education Association (NEA) conference says union leadership placed political activism—specifically opposing former President Donald Trump—above the basics of teaching literacy.
According to a report by The Free Press, a Texas delegate described the NEA’s new business agenda as heavily politicized. She recalled a moment when a colleague tried to discuss strategies for improving reading and writing instruction, only to be dismissed by another union member who reportedly said, “We don’t have time for that. We’ve got to fight Trump.”
The NEA, the country’s largest teachers’ union, held its annual Representative Assembly in early July, where members voted on numerous policy initiatives. Among them were measures aimed at resisting what they called “Trump’s embrace of fascism,” using that term in official union materials. They also passed resolutions opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and supporting student-led actions against deportations and raids.
When The Free Press reached out for comment, the NEA directed them to past public statements from union president Becky Pringle, including her convention address, where she urged members to “take action that leads, action that liberates, action that lasts.”
The NEA did not respond directly to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Political Agenda Draws Mixed Reaction
At the convention, the union also endorsed the nationwide “No Kings” protests, part of what they called a mass democratic movement to counter “Trump’s authoritarianism and human rights violations.” The business agenda also included support for students’ rights to organize protests and guidance for schools preparing for possible ICE enforcement actions—an area of concern after Trump revoked Obama-era protections restricting ICE activity in schools and hospitals.
NEA president Becky Pringle has long been a vocal critic of Trump-era immigration policies. She endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and has pushed for a broader social justice agenda within the classroom.
Criticism From Within
Some attendees, however, say the union’s priorities have shifted too far from its core mission.
Speaking to The Free Press, the Texas delegate summarized the convention’s tone as centered on “politics, sex, and gender” rather than education. “When delegates get up on stage, they tell you that they’re political,” the delegate said. “These things didn’t just happen overnight. People just haven’t been paying attention.”
In another claim from the report, union members who raised concerns about the treatment of Jewish educators said they were met with a chilly reception.
The NEA’s 2025 convention spotlighted the increasingly political role of teachers’ unions in American public life — a trend critics say comes at the expense of classroom fundamentals.
