Teachers Unions Shift Focus to Politics, Ex-Member Says

A former NEA and CTA member argues major teachers unions now prioritize political power over classroom instruction.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Education — General

Teachers Unions Shift Focus to Politics, Ex-Member Says

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Do you think teachers unions focus too much on political spending?

Michael Greer, a retired special education teacher who spent 26 years as a CTA and NEA member, claimed major teachers unions have shifted focus from instruction to political power. A report from NAVI found the NEA spent at least $547 million on political activity between fiscal years 2016 and 2025.

Why it matters

The claims add to debate over how union political spending relates to student outcomes, with only about three in 10 students proficient in math and reading according to national assessment data. Total union political spending, including state and local affiliates, is reported to top $1 billion.

The NEA made $88.2 million in direct contributions to progressive organizations between fiscal years 2016 and 2025, while national teachers unions have funneled over $660 million to left-wing groups since 2015. The figures come from financial tallies, and the source does not explain how the contributions were allocated within each organization.

The players

Michael Greer

A retired special education teacher and former local CTA chapter president who spent 26 years as a CTA and NEA member and served on the Del Norte County Unified School District Board of Trustees.

National Education Association (NEA)

The largest teachers union in the United States, which reported $458.9 million in officially designated political and lobbying expenditures between fiscal years 2016 and 2025.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

A national teachers union that reported $383.2 million in political activity and lobbying.

California Teachers Association (CTA)

The state affiliate of the NEA that funds teachers to attend both the state Republican and Democratic conventions.

The details

Greer, a former local CTA chapter president who also served on the Del Norte County Unified School District Board of Trustees, said the CTA funds teachers to attend both the state Republican and Democratic conventions with up to $800 for hotel and transportation. Union contributions reported in the analysis went to Senate Majority PAC, House Majority PAC, the State Engagement Fund, and For Our Future Action Fund.

Fiscal years 2016 to 2025: period of NEA political spending analyzed by NAVI.
Since 2015: national teachers unions' political contributions tracked by Parents Defending Education.
Since 1979: the U.S. Department of Education has been created with over $3 trillion in federal funding spent.

Season Trajectory

NAVI's tally of NEA political activity spending from fiscal years 2016 to 2025 puts the reported $547 million in a documented multi-year pattern. Greer's account adds a first-hand perspective on how those priorities are set within the union.

Parents and educators weighing how union political activity relates to classroom priorities can compare reported spending figures against their own district's budgets and union dues structures. Families may also review public records on school board decisions to see how union positions are reflected locally.

The takeaway

Readers evaluating claims about union priorities can check the underlying financial filings, which show the scale and direction of political spending across fiscal years. Comparing those filings against district-level academic results offers a more complete picture than either side's framing alone.