According to new tax filings, compensation for top executives and employees at the National Rifle Association (NRA) skyrocketed this past year even as the budget for the organization's educational programs and other services were slashed.

From 2017 to 2018, high-level compensation rose 41 percent, including a 57 percent increase for chief executive Wayne LaPierre, raising his yearly earnings from the organization to $2.15 million, The Washington Post reports.

Conversely, the NRA reportedly cut its spending on education and training 22 percent, hunter services 61 percent and field services such as volunteer organizing by 51 percent.

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NRA officials told the Post that the pay raises were the result of analysis done by a group of board members. Spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said that the organization also “eliminated costly advertising” in several areas.