The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the oldest labor union in North America, has come under criticism following a report by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) alleging that union leadership has acted contrary to the political preferences of its largely pro-Trump membership. The report, released in March 2026, accuses BLET leaders of endorsing Democratic candidates and policies while spending millions of dollars supporting the Democratic Party.
Union’s political spending favors Democrats
The AAF report highlights that BLET has donated the vast majority of its political funds to Democratic campaigns, with 99% of party committee donations directed to Democrats. For example, in the 2016 cycle, BLET gave $15,000 exclusively to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) but nothing to the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 2024, the union made 24 donations totaling $53,400 to Democratic committees but only two donations amounting to $2,000 to Republican committees, despite clear evidence that industrial union members overwhelmingly supported former President Donald Trump.
The union also publicly endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket in the 2024 election and maintains ties to prominent Democrats such as Senator Bernie Sanders and former Senator Sherrod Brown, who is seeking another Senate term. While the union has occasionally praised Republican initiatives—for instance, supporting Vice President J.D. Vance and the bipartisan reintroduction of the Railway Safety Act earlier in 2026—the report notes repeated BLET criticism of Trump-era policies on transportation, immigration enforcement, and conservative policy agendas like Project 2025.
Criticism of union messaging and spending habits
AAF’s review of BLET’s social media showed numerous posts opposing many Trump administration rail policies and promoting the Biden administration’s railroad initiatives, which the report frames as biased messaging intended to influence union members’ political views. The watchdog describes the leadership as exhibiting “woke” tendencies contrary to the largely conservative membership base.
Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the union’s financial management, finding over $26 million spent on political activity in recent years alongside millions in member dues used for luxury travel accommodations, including over $5 million on hotels and conferences and more than $2 million spent on casinos and resorts. Leadership salaries also raise concerns, with multiple top officials earning over $200,000 annually, including the union president and vice president each making over $300,000.
Membership political preferences contrast with leadership
Polling referenced by the AAF reveals that union members tend to favor former President Trump. For example, Teamsters polling showed a 60/40 split in favor of Trump among members, and 2024 exit polls indicated that working-class voters without a college degree supported Trump by 56% compared to 42% for Kamala Harris.
AAF President Tom Jones described the members as believing in secure borders and prioritizing American workers. He criticized the union leadership for their spending and political choices, suggesting a disconnect between rank-and-file members and their elected officials.
Why it matters
The allegations against BLET raise questions about the alignment between union leadership and membership views, particularly in the context of labor unions’ traditional role as representatives of worker interests. The reported political spending and messaging could impact member trust and influence future union solidarity amid increasingly polarized American politics. It also underscores broader tensions within labor movements, where leadership often remains aligned with Democratic politics while rank-and-file members show growing support for conservative candidates.
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