SEIU, NEA and AFT Issue Joint Statement in Support of The Open Society Foundation

Issued September 26, 2025

"First it was law firms, then universities, then media companies and now, foundations. The Trump administration's investigation of the Open Society Foundation is a direct attack on our freedom to speak out, organize, and support the causes we believe in.

Our unions, representing 7 million essential workers - Black, Brown, immigrant, and white - know this playbook all too well. When government power is used to silence voices of dissent, it harms working people by weakening the allies and movements we depend on to stand up to corporate power and win better wages, safer jobs, and dignity on the job.

We have always fought to make this country live up to its promise, but we know true democracy has never been fully delivered. Together, we are building a new democracy - one that finally includes all of us. OSF has stood with workers in that fight, and we stand with them now. Across race and across movements, we will not be silenced."

Signed,

Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association (NEA)

Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

April Verrett, International President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

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