News from Higher Ed | September 2025

 

The AFT and the American Association of University Professors, together representing the country’s largest and most powerful force of higher education workers, launched a major national campaign Sept. 18 to protect higher education from political and economic attacks. The campaign, “Higher Education: Saving Lives, Building Futures, Powering the Economy,” will run through the 2026 midterm election. It is intended not only to defend our institutions from the Trump administration’s relentless pursuit of disastrous funding cuts and program eliminations, but to advance a vision of higher education as a democratic, accessible and transformative public good. To learn more, click here. Photo by Michael Ferguson.

 

In her new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy, AFT President Randi Weingarten writes about the good educators do in the world—fostering empathy and confidence, and cultivating opportunity—and frames public education as essential to creating a democratic, inclusive society in which citizens think critically and work together for the common good. But all that is under attack because, as Weingarten writes in her monthly column, “authoritarians fear a well-educated citizenry … because their brand of greed, power and privilege cannot survive in a democracy of diverse, educated citizens.” Read her column to learn more, check out this excerpt in the Fall 2025 issue of American Educator and listen to Weingarten discuss the book during the AFT Book Club talk Sept. 28.

As the threats of fascism, authoritarianism and political violence intensify across the U.S., the urgency for action has never been clearer. In the face of book bans, anti-democratic policies and attacks on historically marginalized communities, educators and unions must once again rise as democracy’s first responders. At the 2025 AFT Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Conference in Detroit, Oct. 9-12, we will work together to reclaim public institutions, push back against the growing infrastructure of repression and equip AFT locals with the tools to meet the moment head-on—with strategy, solidarity and a commitment to long-term power-building. Register here.

Education unionists care deeply about their communities and share a genuine kinship that crosses international borders. So it's no surprise that AFT leaders showed up at Education International’s Latin America Pedagogical Movement Summit Aug. 21-23 to share strategies and solutions to mounting challenges in our education systems, whether they were in Washington, D.C., or Cañete, Peru, where the conference was held. Days later, leaders convened again with Latin American unionists, this time for a virtual dialogue exploring the threat of authoritarianism, privatization and economic inequality and exchanging strategies for resistance and solidarity. Read more here.

 

This year Hispanic Heritage Month looks a little different, with threats to our immigrant communities rising and diversity, equity and inclusion programs targeted for elimination. That’s not dampening our spirit, though: We are both celebrating the vibrant culture that has brought us such rich traditions in music, literature, sports, language and so much more, and fighting back to keep our communities safe, with Know Your Rights sessions, protests against injustice and discrimination, and work to save our democracy for all the people who live in this country. As AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus says, “We celebrate our culture, our resilience and our unshakeable spirit. No intimidation or fear tactics, and no administration, can silence us.” Check out our resources here.

 

 

AFT members will join with allies nationwide on Oct. 18 for a “No Kings” day of action—gathering in every corner of America to defend our freedoms, our democracy and our future. Together, we will say loud and clear: No thrones. No crowns. No kings. We are building community, not division, and demanding dignity, affordability and opportunity for all. Find an event near you.