Republican lawmakers are set to introduce a new bill on Wednesday aimed at revoking the federal charter of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers’ union in the U.S.
Representatives Mark Harris (R-NC) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) are behind the National Education Association Charter Repeal Act. The NEA, established in 1857 and granted a federal charter in 1906, is being criticized by Republicans for straying from its original mission of supporting educators, now allegedly driven by a radical left agenda.
“From branding President Trump as a fascist to shifting focus away from important educational issues, the NEA has transformed into a partisan advocacy group,” Harris stated. He added, “The NEA clearly doesn’t prioritize the interests of students, parents, or teachers, so it’s time to remove this fraudulent organization’s Congressional approval.”
The federal charter has classified the union as a non-profit entity under federal law and acknowledged its objectives.
Harris mentioned that the NEA has a troubling history of undermining public trust, noting that a report indicated 98% of the union’s political donations went to Democratic candidates in the last election cycle.
Recently, the NEA faced criticism for passing a resolution to protect democracy, targeting Trump’s agenda, which some viewed as hypocritical. This skepticism was highlighted by conservative education expert Corey A. DeAngelis, who pointed out a misspelling in the NEA’s language related to their statements against Trump.
Blackburn remarked that the union consistently prioritizes political interests over the needs of students, stating, “The National Education Association clearly reveals itself as a partisan organization and does not deserve the federal charter that has become a platform for leftist ideologies like gender issues and anti-Semitism. Students deserve better.”
Though monitoring indicates the NEA primarily relies on membership dues rather than federal funding, the proposed bill would eliminate some of its council affiliations and specific property tax advantages, according to reports.
As of publication, the NEA had not provided a comment on the matter.
