National teachers’ unions gave millions to radical left groups  

The two largest national teachers’ unions have donated tens of millions of dollars to radical left-wing organizations in just the past three years.

Defending Ed, an education watchdog, compiled a list of National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) donations between 2022 and 2024.

Between the two unions, over $43 million poured into progressive activism. 

“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.

“This is a slap in the face to families and teachers who want to focus on helping students improve their reading and math skills.”

Donation recipients included:

• Building Back Together, the Biden administration’s lobbying group ($100,000 from the AFT; $150,000 from the NEA) 
• Karen Bass’s 2022 campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles ($150,000 from the AFT)  
• Democratic Governors Association ($600,000 from the AFT) 
• House Majority PAC, a major financial supporter of Congressional Democrats ($1.6 million from the AFT) 
• Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC to support Democrat and liberal candidates for U.S. Senate ($1.25 million from the AFT) 
• Progressive Caucus Action Fund, whose members include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and the transgender-identifying Rep. Sarah McBride ($150,000 from the NEA) 
• VoteVets, a group saying it helps veterans run for elected office, but which spent most of its money funding non-veteran Democrats ($245,000 from the AFT; $15,000 from the NEA) 
• Workers Vote, a super PAC exclusively funding Democrat candidates ($916,000 from the AFT) 
• Protect Our Schools KY, an anti-school choice group ($2.4 million from the NEA) 
• State Engagement Fund, left-wing advocacy group, considered “dark money” since it legally does not have to disclose its donors ($9.5 million from the NEA) 
• PEN America Center, which “stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States,” supporting sexually explicit books in public school libraries ($50,000 from the AFT) 
• The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network ($30,000 from the NEA) 
• Human Rights Campaign, whose goal is to “ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens within our movement, across our country and around the world” ($60,000 from the NEA) 
• Politico, a left-wing news organization ($160,000 from the AFT; $110,000 from the NEA) 
• Red Wine & Blue, a group of suburban women “working together to defeat extremism” and “to get sh*t done and have fun along the way” ($870,000 from the AFT) 
• The One for All Committee, which “persuades moderate women to vote for an America that works for everyone” ($150,000 from the AFT) 

• EMILY’s List, a pro-abortion group aiming to “elect Democratic pro-choice women” nationwide ($150,000 from the NEA) 
• Black Progressive Action Coalition, which “believes that Black voters are at the core of the modern progressive coalition” ($300,000 from the NEA) 
• For Our Future Action Fund, a pro-union, pro-public education, pro-social and racial justice group targeting climate change ($2.35 million from the AFT, $7 million from the NEA) 
• National Action Network, which promotes a “modern civil rights agenda” for everyone “regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality” ($100,000 from the AFT; $85,000 from the NEA) 
• And the Midwest Academy, which trains “the next generation of organizers” to center “low-income communities, people of color, working-class communities, and underrepresented groups” ($395,000 from the NEA) 

“You’d think in light of the decline in union membership in recent years, that they’d start providing value to members that outweighs the cost of membership,” Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation, told Fox News.

“Instead, they are appeasing the radical base of union members by advocating for men in women’s sports, transitioning minors, antisemitism and other radical ideological stances.”

The Freedom Foundation helps thousands of public-sector employees leave their unions every month.

Photo: AFT