AFT President Weingarten Criticizes Trump’s $500B Voucher Scheme

‘Poison Pill’: AFT’s Weingarten Slams Trump Voucher Scam State Governors Should Reject New Scheme that Diverts $500 Billion in Taxpayer Funds Over 10 Years to Private Schools

New Voucher Scheme Criticized by AFT President

WASHINGTON—Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), expressed strong opposition following the Trump administration's introduction of new regulations related to a national private school voucher program.

Weingarten described the initiative as detrimental to the majority of American students, stating, “This scheme is a poison pill for the 90 percent of American children who attend public schools.” She criticized the allocation of $500 billion in taxpayer funds to private entities, likening the situation to a "real-life Hunger Games" for those dependent on public education resources.

Weingarten urged state governors to dismiss the proposal, highlighting their lack of control or oversight over the voucher system. She emphasized the negative impact on public education funding, noting that money could be better utilized for improving instructional quality, reducing class sizes, and updating educational facilities.

The AFT leader also pointed out the selective nature of private schools, which she claims undermines the concept of true school choice. “Private schools can simply refuse to accept poor kids, those with special needs or those with different religions,” Weingarten said, while criticizing the lack of accountability required from private schools compared to public institutions.

According to Weingarten, the regulations are part of a broader pattern within the Trump administration, which she describes as harmful to families and young people, referencing previous budget cuts to programs like Medicaid and student loans.

Weingarten called for a commitment to enhancing public schools, suggesting that the focus should be on creating safe, welcoming environments with engaging and rigorous curricula. Such efforts, she believes, would provide diverse educational pathways and address the challenges posed by technological advancements.

AFT's Role and Representation

The American Federation of Teachers represents 1.8 million members, including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, government employees, healthcare workers, and early childhood educators.

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