Republican lawmakers, including North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris and Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, have announced their intent to introduce legislation aimed at revoking the federal charter of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers’ union in the United States. The bill, titled the National Education Association Charter Repeal Act, seeks to strip the NEA of its congressional charter due to growing concerns that the union has shifted its focus from education to partisan advocacy.
The decision follows a series of reports highlighting the NEA’s alleged prioritization of political activities over educational concerns. Recent revelations indicated that the union’s annual meeting included resolutions that strongly criticized former President Donald Trump, including a resolution that inaccurately referred to his policies as ‘fascist’ and sought to use the term ‘facism’ in NEA materials to describe his agenda. Additionally, the NEA passed resolutions labeling efforts to reduce the Department of Education as ‘illegal, anti-democratic, and racist attempts to destroy public education and privatize it in the interests of the billionaires.’ These actions have fueled the lawmakers’ argument that the NEA is no longer focused on its primary mission of supporting educators and students.
Rep. Harris confirmed the plan on his X account, noting that ten other House Republicans have joined him as co-sponsors. Sen. Blackburn, however, did not publicly address the issue in detail, though she has been a vocal critic of the NEA over the years. The legislation is seen as a continuation of a broader effort by conservative lawmakers to limit the influence of unions, following similar attempts by Wisconsin Rep. Scott Fitzgerald and Indiana Sen. Jim Banks in 2022, who also sought to strip the NEA of its congressional charter.
While the NEA has yet to respond publicly, the move has sparked a debate over the role of unions in education and the extent to which they should be allowed to engage in political advocacy. Critics argue that the legislation is an attempt to silence a powerful voice in education, while supporters believe it is a necessary step to ensure that unions prioritize the interests of educators and students over partisan politics.
With the bill set to be introduced in Congress, the focus will now shift to how the legislation is received and whether it can gain enough support to move forward. The NEA’s response, or lack thereof, could further shape the debate and influence the outcome of this significant policy proposal.