The Controversial Influence of Randi Weingarten in American Politics and Education.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, attempting to shift blame for keeping K-12 students out of the classroom. However, a subcommittee report revealed that the AFT had an extraordinary degree of input in the CDC's 2021 operational strategy, which kept thousands of schools closed throughout the 2020-21 school year. Weingarten's appearance before the committee exposed the extent of the AFT's influence on government policy, particularly at the state and local levels, and its prioritization of growing financial resources and political power over student outcomes and workplace concerns.