| Peter ,
In normal times, I would rarely write an email midyear to all of our 1.8 million members, but as we mark the 100th day of the second Trump administration, there is nothing normal about this moment.
What We Are Facing
Since his return to the White House, President Trump has been all the things those who voted against him feared, and he’s done little if any of the things to improve people’s lives that those who voted for him hoped.
Trump is doing nothing to deliver on his campaign promises to lower costs for working people and retirees. In fact, he is making things worse. He has launched a global trade war that will increase costs on everything from food and clothes to automobiles, which economists say is more likely than not to lead us into an economic recession, job layoffs and a significant cut in the value of 401(k) plans.
Trump has spent his first 100 days dismantling public education, attacking universities, firing federal workers, ending vital labor and health programs, and making it harder for retirees to access Social Security. Shortly, he will unveil his plan to provide a tax cut to billionaires, which he plans to pay for by cutting Medicaid, veterans’ programs, programs for children living in poverty and students with disabilities, and research grants to colleges and universities that fund cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s research.
The chaos is unnerving, and the day-to-day affliction of pain and cruelty can never be justified. Trump has callously ignored his promises to the American people, while threatening our jobs, our schools, our colleges and universities, our hospitals and our communities.
We have no choice but to fight back. We have a deep and enduring commitment to you, and we will not back down from a fight for opportunity and dignity for all. Indeed, that is what you told us to do, in our post-election member polls. Fight for a better life for all. Fight for the kitchen-table issues. Fight for higher wages. Fight for retirement security and health security. Fight for a voice at work and in our democracy.
Well my friends, the fight is here. It’s happening on every front—and we need everyone in it. Sign up here to become an AFT activist. Our democracy and the American dream literally hang in the balance.
We Are Fighting in the Courts
The AFT has filed numerous lawsuits to block Trump from eliminating the Department of Education and funding that directly supports students, to stop cuts in research funding at colleges and universities, to defend the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and much more.
We also sued Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency for accessing private Social Security and employment information. We won a preliminary injunction to stop DOGE from accessing our sensitive private information.
And this week, we won a big one for our K-12 community—stopping the secretary of education from subjecting Title I funding to their ideological whims. Title I funding is for low-income children—26 million of them—and we need it and much more in our public schools across the country.
We Are Fighting in Congress
We are in Congress every week advocating for safe, welcoming, relevant, engaging and fully funded public schools and universities that prepare our students for college, career and life.
We are fighting against cuts in public education, Social Security, Medicaid and other programs that provide opportunity and a safety net to our members and millions of Americans to help pay for Trump’s tax cut for billionaires.
We are fighting for freedom and opportunity for all, which only comes with a vibrant democracy that delivers for working people, not just the wealthy.
We Are Fighting in the Streets
The founders of our republic were very concerned that the country’s chief executive stayed as a president, not as a king. That is why they created three coequal branches of power. But when things are out of whack, as they are now, and the president overreaches, then the people have to act, and that is why we have taken to the streets.
On March 4, AFT members led 2,000 Protect Our Kids events across the country.
On April 5, we joined with millions of others to say Hands Off our schools, our healthcare, our Social Security, our unions and our democracy.
And we are planning more days of action. Many of our affiliates are standing up for immigrants on May 1; there is also a large event being planned for June 14, which is Flag Day. Many of our international partners will be standing up for us on July 4, and labor will be standing tall this Labor Day. We will share information with you soon and different ways you can get involved.
This is the ultimate check and balance: Millions of people acting together, in community, to stand up for a better life and against the chaos and cruelty of the Trump agenda.
Our strength is each other. Be part of our activist network—sign up now to become an AFT activist and add your voice!
Solidarity Is Our Path Forward
Every day, in the work you all do, or did before you retired, you make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you for all you do. I hope to see you soon as I travel the country in the next weeks and months. Now, more than ever, we must come together and fight for the promise of America—for opportunity, dignity, respect and a better life for all of us.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
P.S. The fight for our future is happening right now—in every community. Find an event near you and stand with us. |
