Rep. Mark Harris, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, made several statements on his social media account on July 16 and 17, 2025, criticizing the National Education Association (NEA) and questioning actions by Georgetown University.
On July 16, Rep. Harris commented on the NEA’s history and mission, stating: “Congress chartered the NEA in 1906 with the mission to ‘advance the interests of the profession of teaching.’ It has failed miserably at this mission by advocating for CRT, DEI & LGBT propaganda in classrooms. It’s time for Congress to take back our stamp of approval!”
Later that same day, Harris posted another message referencing Georgetown University: ‘”Why would you give a medal to someone who made such antisemitic comments?” Watch to hear Georgetown University’s answer: https://t.co/gDtbvuX4fn’
On July 17, Harris renewed his criticism of the NEA with a call to action: “REVOKE THE NEA’S FEDERAL CHARTER!!”
The NEA was established by congressional charter in 1906 as a professional organization representing educators across the United States. In recent years, it has faced criticism from some lawmakers regarding its positions on issues such as critical race theory (CRT), diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and LGBTQ+ rights in education.
