Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), is facing criticism after a Freedom Foundation analysis alleged that more than $1.4 million of union money was channeled into her book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy. The report, based on federal LM‑2 filings for July 2024‑June 2025, details payments to consultants, lawyers and publishers that members say should fund workplace representation, not a personal manifesto.

Over $400,000 Paid to Consultant Sally Kohn

The Freedom Foundation’s breakdown shows the AFT paid Sally Kohn $400,270 in two installments, a figure three times higher than her prior year earnings from the union. Kohn is listed in the book’s acknowledgments as a “day‑to‑day thought partner,” and the foundation labels her a ghotswriter, a claim the president’s office disputes, noting Kohn also worked on other union projects such as the Reconnecting McDowell newsletter.

Nearly $1 Million Funneled to Law Firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler

Legal fees dominate the spending record, with $838,039 recorded as “representational activities” and an additional $139,236 under union administration, totalling $977,275. While Weingarten says counsel Charles Moerdler provided pro‑bono review, the AFT’s own disclosures suggest the firm was compensated at a scale far beyond typical advisory work.

Publication Costs and AFT Staff Labor Valued at $69,302

InkWell Management and Penguin Random House received $64,090 for publishing services, and $5,212 went to photographer Tony Powell for book imagery. the analysis also notes that roughly thirty AFT staff members contributed labor, effectively paid for by member dues, though no separate monetary valuation is provided.

What Remains Unclear About the Book’s Funding?

Key unanswered points include whether any of the legal fees were strictly for union representation or partially for manuscript review, and how much, if any, of the $1.4 million came from Weingarten’s personal funds. The Freedom Foundation asserts the union covered “the vast majority,” but the AFT has not released a detailed reconciliation.

Members Question the Use of $469,442 Salary for Political Publishing

Weingarten’s annual salary of $469,442, funded by dues from 1.8 million educators, is now under scrutiny as members wonder if the allocation aligns with the union’s core mission. while the president claims royalties will be shared with the union’s nonprofit arms, critics argue the initial outlay of dues‑money for a politically charged book breaches member expectations.

According to the Freedom Foundation report, the AFT’s spending on the book “far exceeds what typical union communications would require.” As the debate unfolds, AFT officials have promised a review of the expenditures but have not set a timeline for public disclosure.