The National Education Association (NEA), representing nearly three million teachers nationwide, has approved a new business item calling for the "impeachment, conviction, and removal" of President Donald Trump. The measure directs the union to advocate for his ouster and to organize a "National March on Washington" prior to the 2026 midterm elections. This initiative is projected to cost over $5.2 million.
During its annual Assembly, held recently in Denver with approximately 7,000 delegates, the NEA also approved a proposal to send its president to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus for "Educational Reparations." This plan includes measures such as reducing student loan debt, increasing funding for historically Black colleges and universities, and dismantling the property-tax system used for local school funding.
Union Priorities and Academic Crisis
Critics argue that the union's focus on these political and policy initiatives diverts resources and attention from critical issues facing American education, such as declining student proficiency in reading. Data from the U.S. Education Department indicates that approximately 40 percent of fourth graders read below grade level, with similar trends in eighth and twelfth grades. The author contends that a "serious union" would prioritize issues like safer schools, improved discipline, higher teacher pay, and effective reading instruction, directing funds toward tutoring and phonics programs.
Financial Allocations and Transparency Concerns
Reports suggest that the NEA and its counterpart have funneled over $1 billion into left-wing causes in the past decade, with approximately $669 million from the NEA and its affiliate directed toward progressive groups, Democratic committees, and campaigns opposing school choice. The NEA reportedly spent $7.2 million on a Kentucky group fighting school vouchers and $4.3 million on a Nebraska initiative to repeal school choice, funds that teachers were reportedly told would support their profession.
While the NEA has not directly responded to specific allegations regarding these financial allocations, the union typically asserts that its proposals are the result of democratic procedures followed by its delegates. However, concerns have been raised about the transparency of these decisions and the full disclosure of the costs and commitments associated with such initiatives. The question remains whether the union, which collects dues from educators, has become more of a political operation than an organization dedicated to classroom improvement.
The NEA has a history of political engagement, having made its first presidential endorsement in 1976. The recent votes in Denver are seen by some as a continuation of this long-standing practice, suggesting that partisan politics may take precedence over immediate classroom concerns for the organization. The article implies that most teachers are focused on their students and classroom challenges rather than the union's broader political agenda.