The future of a critical job training program just got put on hold, literally. This week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it will pause all operations at contractor-run Job Corps centers nationwide by June 30th. That move affects thousands of students and staff across the country, and it’s already getting serious backlash from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
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The Job Corps program has been around since the ’60s, helping low-income teens and young adults between 16 and 24 get vocational training, education, and a shot at a stable job. But according to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the program isn’t delivering like it used to. She pointed to troubling incident reports and a deepening financial hole: FY24 alone saw a $140 million deficit, and FY25 is projected to hit $213 million.
The Department of Labor says it’ll help students transition out of the program and cover their travel costs. But that’s cold comfort for the people who counted on Job Corps to build their futures.
For now, the pause leaves a big question hanging: What happens next to one of the few federally backed training programs helping underserved youth?
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