Teachers who assumed their union dues primarily supported classroom conditions and salaries may be shocked to learn they have contributed over $1 billion to political causes, advocacy groups, PACs, and campaigns in the past decade.

A watchdog report by Defending Education reveals that teachers unions nationwide—including the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT)—and their state and local affiliates have funneled more than $1 billion into progressive political infrastructure over the last ten years.

The report, which analyzed federal filings, campaign finance records, and union spending documents tied to the NEA, AFT, and their state or local affiliates, found that national union expenditures alone reached approximately $669 million since 2015. When adding state and local affiliate activity, the combined political spending exceeds $1 billion.

The money flows extend beyond traditional campaign contributions to include progressive nonprofits, ballot initiatives, advocacy operations, and groups aligned with Democratic organizing. More than $85 million went directly to federal, state, and local Democratic Party entities before accounting for individual candidate giving.

Defending Education states that the funds were directed toward organizations supporting climate activism, gender ideology, abortion politics, anti-school-choice campaigns, and other left-wing priorities. The report describes this as a disconnect: “Teachers pay in. Political groups cash out.”

The national report details that NEA and AFT have moved $669,324,912.33 through member dues, fees, political funds, and PAC disbursements since August 2015. This money supported left-wing political entities, far-left nonprofits, school board campaigns, and opponents of school-choice legislation.

Key figures include over $85 million to Democratic Party entities, more than $60 million to the State Engagement Fund since 2016, and nearly $44 million to For Our Future Action Fund and related organizations. The report also lists anti-school-choice efforts in Maine, Nebraska, Kentucky, and Colorado.

The state and local component shows that affiliates and their PACs spent a total of $336,723,003.84, with $135,803,422.13 coming from state and local teachers unions and $200,919,581.71 from union PAC activity. Notable affiliates include the California Federation of Teachers, Chicago Teachers Union, Education Minnesota, Florida Education Association, Michigan Education Association, Ohio Education Association, United Federation of Teachers, and United Teachers Los Angeles.

The report emphasizes that this political spending is not incidental. Defending Education states that state and local union entities have become organized funding channels for causes and candidates many parents and educators may never have knowingly supported.

Teacher Freedom Alliance CEO Ryan Walters has long argued that unions are no longer merely bargaining organizations but have evolved into “political engines.”

While unions maintain that political advocacy is part of protecting public education, the report raises a critical question: How many classroom teachers signed up to fund national left-wing politics?

With spending totals now exceeding $1 billion, this issue remains unresolved.