House Republicans have launched a probe into allegations that American Federation of Teachers’ dues were spent to help the union’s president, Randi Weingarten, write and promote a controversial book.
The investigation by the GOP-led House Committee on Education and Workforce comes after The Post’s exclusive report in May that Weingarten tapped into hundreds of thousands in union resources to help pen her tome, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy.”
“The prospect that rank-and-file educators’ dues may have financed a project that generated private financial gain raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and fiduciary responsibility within one of the nation’s largest labor organizations,” the head of the committee said in a Tuesday letter to Weingarten.
The letter, from Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) and Rep. Rick Allen (R-Georgia), chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, said The Post’s report — based on a Freedom Foundation analysis of the union’s federal labor disclosures — raised serious questions.
They questioned “whether union funds, personnel, contractors, and other resources were utilized to support the development and promotion of your book while you (Weingarten) simultaneously retained a portion of the resulting royalties and proceeds.”
“According to these reports, AFT expended substantial funds on consultants, legal services, publication-related expenses, fact-checking services, photography, and other activities connected to the book,” Walberg and Allen said.
A team that assisted Weingarten with the book raked in more than $1.4 million from the AFT’s coffers, The Post previously reported based on the Freedom Foundation analysis — including an attorney whose firm earned $977,000 for various work for the union while he supposedly toiled on the book pro bono, as well as a supposed “ghost writer” who earned over $400,000 overall from the union, according to its 2024-25 financial report.
“These allegations, if accurate, raise significant questions regarding transparency, fiduciary obligations to union members, and the use of member dues,” the House members said.
Weingarten publicly stated that some of the proceeds from the book would go back to the AFT, the AFT Disaster Relief Fund and the AFT Educational Foundation.
Union records revealed that two “royalty payments” totaling $125,000 were made to a Weingarten-controlled entity called “Teachers Want What Kids Need, LLC,” which the Freedom Foundation analysis pointed out was not a tax-exempt charity but “an opaque corporate entity incorporated in Delaware.”
The lawmakers noted that Weingarten said the book project was undertaken in partnership with the AFT and claimed she did nothing wrong but, “the available information warrants further review to determine the extent to which union resources were devoted to a project from which you may have personally benefited financially.”
And the committee gave Weingarten homework.
As part of its sweeping investigation, it requested Weingarten turn over by July 21 all AFT expenditures related to the drafting, publishing, promoting and tour activities associated with the book; all agreements between AFT and outside parties and documents of all work performed by AFT employees on the book.
Walberg and Allen said they have a responsibility to ensure that unions representing American workers operate “transparently and that union members receive a full accounting of how their dues are utilized.”
“The Committee expects your full cooperation,” they said.
Weingarten had no immediate comment.
She previously panned the Post’s report as based on a “fishing expedition” by a right-wing group, but admitted that the proceeds of the book were “shared equally” between her and the union.
Weingarten, who is paid $469,442 by the AFT and who previously headed the union’s New York City affiliate, the United Federation of Teachers, claimed she never hid that she would split the proceeds.
“Educators need people making the public case for them, for critical thinking and for public schools. I am glad to have been in full partnership with the union on this project — and any and all proceeds from the book are shared equally,” she said in May.
Weingarten was also asked by the committee to submit documents spelling out all revenues, advances, royalties, licensing payments, speaking fees generated by the book; and the distribution of all proceeds generated by it, including payments made to AFT, The AFT Educational Foundation, The AFT Disaster Relief Fund and Teachers Want What Kids Need, LLC.
The lawmakers additionally requested all documents concerning the formation, ownership, governance, and purpose of Teachers Want What Kids Need.
In addition, the massive request seeks documents for all travel, lodging, security, communications, and promotional expenses paid by AFT associated with events promoting the book as well as communications between AFT leadership and the publisher, literary agents, consultants, or outside vendors regarding funding, promotion, or allocation of proceeds related to the book.
Finally, the committee requested copies of AFT policies governing the use of union resources for projects that may generate personal income for Weingarten or other union officers.
