In a move that has left many scratching their heads, Randi Weingarten, the head of the leftist American Federation of Teachers union, has been appointed to the Department of Homeland Security School Safety Board. Weingarten, who possesses no known expertise in the realm of security, is an odd choice for such an important position.
Weingarten has been notorious for her role in keeping schools closed during the pandemic, despite studies showing the negative effects of remote learning on children’s mental health and academic progress. She has gone so far as to try to rewrite history by claiming that she and her union were advocating for in-person learning all along, despite evidence to the contrary.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently announced that Weingarten will be one of the newest members on the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council, a move that has left many conservative pundits wondering whether Mayorkas is more interested in currying favor with teacher unions than his actual job of keeping Americans safe.
The council, formed last year, is tasked with providing recommendations to the Secretary on issues related to campus safety, security, research priorities, hiring, and more. Mayorkas claims that the council will help DHS “counter evolving and emerging threats to the homeland” by offering insights into “strategic research, innovation, career development, and partnership opportunities.”
But given Weingarten’s lack of experience in these areas, it is hard to see how her appointment makes any sense. She has absolutely no qualifications that would make her an ideal candidate for such a important position.
This is just the latest example of the Biden administration’s tendency to put the interests of their powerful donors before the American people. Weingarten has done more harm than good to America’s children, putting the interests of her union over the needs of students. And yet, Biden has seen fit to reward her with a promotion to a position of power that she is completely unqualified for.
It is time for Americans to stand up to this kind of cronyism and call on our leaders to choose qualified individuals for important positions like this one. We cannot afford to put our children’s safety at risk by allowing unqualified, politically-motivated individuals to hold important positions in the government. It is time for Americans to demand accountability from our leaders and hold them responsible for their actions. Only then can we expect to make real progress in protecting our nation’s children and securing our homeland.
