Teachers News | May 2025

President Donald Trump said he wanted Republicans in Congress to load his legislative agenda into “one big, beautiful bill,” and now they are trying to ram through a budget reconciliation bill that cuts basic needs for children, older people, veterans and low- and moderate-income Americans to fund big tax breaks for the wealthy. In her latest column, AFT President Randi Weingarten lists the “ugly” ways this bill is threatening the most vulnerable people in our country and charges Congress to do better: “How they vote on this bill will determine whether hospitals will be forced to close, whether our parents and grandparents will lose funding for lifesaving care, and whether students in public schools will lose the resources and services they need.”

 

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities have long enriched our classrooms, campuses, workplaces and neighborhoods—often in the face of exclusion, invisibility and injustice. This AANHPI Heritage Month, we honor their contributions; lift up the voices and stories of AFT members; and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, respect and opportunity for all—even in the face of unprecedented challenges. From education to activism, AANHPI leaders are helping to build a better future. Read more here.

 

 

After historic floods swept through McDowell County, W.Va., this February, the community looked like a war zone. For students, the disaster means recovering from yet another traumatic event. For AFT-West Virginia and the AFT’s Reconnecting McDowell campaign, it means mobilizing, again, to fill soup bowls, distribute new books free of charge, and do what unions do—show up where they are needed most. Read more here.

 

Join us July 25–27 in Washington, D.C., for AFT TEACH 2025—a high-impact professional learning conference built by and for educators and union members. This dynamic event brings together AFT members and leaders from across the country for workshops that tackle real classroom challenges, showcase practical solutions and provide powerful, just-in-time ideas. With more than 70 sessions to choose from, you’ll return to school re-energized and equipped for the year ahead. Bonus: Early bird pricing has been extended to May 28—register now and save!

 

As Republican lawmakers push a plan to slash $2 trillion from federal programs—while handing more tax breaks to billionaires—millions of families could lose access to the basics they rely on, including food. Gutting programs like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program means less food assistance to American families, especially families whose children receive free and reduced-price meals at school. Here are five key facts about SNAP and why this fight matters.

 

As the Trump administration takes aim at higher education—withholding federal funding from colleges and universities that won’t bend to Trump’s will and squelching free speech in the process, it is also attacking student debt relief, a tool that makes college more accessible and affordable to those who might benefit most. With policies changing and threats spreading across all aspects of student aid, we hear from two AFT members about their personal experiences with student debt, and share this news article to help untangle the latest changes in student debt relief policy.