Top Teachers Unions Spent Over $900 Million on Politics and Lobbying in 10 Years
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 28
Top Teachers Unions Spent Over $900 Million on Politics and Lobbying in 10 Years
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 28
Summary
$930 million-plus in political activity, lobbying and advocacy spending was attributed to the NEA and AFT from 2016 to 2025 in a report by education watchdog NAVI.
The NEA accounted for at least $547 million, including $458.9 million officially reported as political activity and lobbying and $88.2 million sent directly to progressive advocacy groups.
NAVI said $80.2 million of NEA money flowed through intermediary political groups and $116.9 million went to the union's own super PAC, making dues-funded spending harder for members to track.
The AFT reported $383.2 million in political and lobbying expenditures, including $45.7 million to four national partisan committees and seven-figure donations tied to redistricting, ballot measures and court races.
The watchdog said both unions' spending reached beyond core education bargaining into elections, tax policy and foreign-linked labor groups; neither union immediately responded to requests for comment.