U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, is targeting the National Education Association (NEA) with two bills filed this month that each aim to weaken the union’s impact.¶
Blackburn announced she was sponsoring the so-called National Education Association Charter Repeal Act earlier in July to revoke the NEA’s congressional charter. It’s the only labor union with a federal charter, according to a news release promoting the legislation.¶
The Tennessee Senator announced Tuesday that she’s additionally introducing the so-called Terminating Education Association Congressional Handouts (TEACH) Act that would ban the NEA from lobbying the federal government on behalf of its 3 million members.¶
“The National Education Association has abandoned its mission of supporting America’s teachers and students in the name of pushing its far-left political agenda,” said Senator Blackburn. “The NEA has become nothing more than a radical-left activist group, and it has no business using its status as a congressionally chartered entity to push woke gender ideology, antisemitism, and propaganda on America’s students.”¶
Conservative Opposition to the NEA¶
The NEA has drawn the ire of conservatives in recent years following reports that 98 percent of its political contributions went to Democrats and for partnering with the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network on an anti-bullying campaign.¶
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Most recently, the union has been among the most outspoken against President Donald Trump’s plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return more power to the states. Last March, NEA President Becky Pringle blasted cuts to the department that are seen as the first step to dismantling it.¶
“Firing—without cause—nearly half of the Department of Education staff means the Trump administration is getting rid of the dedicated public servants who help ensure our nation’s students have access to the programs and resources to keep class sizes down and expand learning opportunities,” wrote Pringle on BlueSky.¶
Neither Pringle nor the NEA has provided a public response to Senator Blackburn’s legislation.¶
Run for Governor Still Expected¶
The Tennessee Senator is widely expected to enter the 2026 Tennessee Governor’s race soon, and these bills could provide an important preview for how she might approach the influence of the NEA’s affiliate in Tennessee.¶
The Tennessee Education Association’s political action committee (PAC) is among the biggest spenders each year, and most recently, it was a key supporter of legislation to reduce tests and teacher evaluations, calling it the “Freedom to Teach Bill.”¶
Such changes are in conflict with President Trump’s education priorities that Senator Blackburn supports. The President included strong language in support of states to continue administering testing in his most recent budget proposal.¶
“Annual, high-quality, statewide assessments aligned to challenging State academic standards are a critical element of the statewide accountability systems that each State must establish under the Act, providing parents and educators with information they need to understand whether students are meeting State-determined college- and career-ready academic standards,” wrote the Trump administration in the budget request. “State assessments also help identify schools that are meeting these standards and schools where additional resources and supports may be needed to improve educational opportunity and academic achievement.”¶
U.S. Congressman John Rose is currently the only high-profile candidate in the 2026 Governor’s race, and Blackburn would face him in the Republican primary. Rose reported raising more than $1 million for the race on his most recent campaign filing.¶
