In a sweeping move that could reshape job training opportunities for young Americans, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced on May 29 an immediate halt to operations at all contractor-run Job Corps centers nationwide. All closures were said to be finalized by June 30, but the administration is facing legal pushback. The decision to close these centers aligns with President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal and his administration’s focus on ensuring that federal workforce investments yield measurable outcomes.
Job Corps is a federal job training program for low-income youth aged 16 to 24. Operating for over 50 years, the program aims to help students complete high school, acquire workforce skills, and access transitional support services, including employment assistance, housing, and transportation.
President Trump, however, deems it a “failed experiment to help America’s youth.”
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Based on the transparency report released in April, President Trump is not entirely wrong about the program’s ineffectiveness. The graduation rate is alarmingly low, at just 38.6 percent, and program graduates earn an average annual salary of $16,000, which is less than the federal poverty threshold. Additionally, the administration claims that Job Corps has, in some cases, harmed participants, citing a troubling frequency of serious incidents involving sexual assault, drug use, and violent behavior.
Several media outlets have criticized the closure, citing heartfelt testimonials from Job Corps participants and graduates.
In its report on the closure, CBS News highlights individuals currently in the program who face challenging situations that have discouraged them from pursuing the traditional college path. For example, it mentions a student who is the primary caregiver for their disabled mother and is four months away from graduating as a licensed nurse. Another student was previously homeless, and Job Corps helped them earn their high school diploma. According to the CBS News article, Job Corps has helped these participants get their lives back on track. With its imminent pause, their careers are now “in limbo.”
Both sides of the debate have a point.
The Trump administration, on the one hand, is prioritizing the reduction of government waste and the downsizing of the federal bureaucracy. For what it costs to maintain, Job Corps isn’t delivering. On the other hand, what about the thousands of individuals who depend on the program to gain steady employment?
Alongside concerns that the closure would displace thousands, the DOL’s decision has also faced legal pushback. In a lawsuit filed by the National Job Corps Association and other plaintiffs representing Job Corps, it is argued that because Congress created and funds the program, the Executive Branch cannot unilaterally dismantle it.
On June 4, U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter ordered the DOL not to terminate Job Corps contracts or halt operations at its centers until a ruling is issued.
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The Trump administration has rightly emphasized putting Americans first, and I agree. Americans should be first in line for education and employment opportunities, and the federal government should invest in making that a reality. Despite its flaws, Job Corps can serve as an effective pathway to credential young Americans for the workforce, especially at a time when higher education is not, and perhaps should not be, the default tool for that purpose. College has become too expensive, and its curriculum often fails to align with the actual needs of the workforce.
Cutting Job Corps, then, may ultimately undermine Trump’s own agenda by eliminating a viable, debt-free alternative that focuses on career-ready, transferable skills.
For now, it remains unclear whether Job Corps will be replaced—and if so, by what. The Department of Labor has stated that it is collaborating with state and local governments to assist current students in their transition, but no specific plans have been announced. Meanwhile, higher education is already struggling to deliver meaningful workforce outcomes, especially as artificial intelligence upends traditional career paths. Job Corps needs more than a pause—it needs fundamental reform to ensure its outcomes justify the billions invested. Without it, we risk failing the very young Americans who rely on it to build a better future.
Image: “Job Corps students listen during Shadow Day for Job Corps students at the Sydney R. Yates building in Washington, D.C. March 28, 2019” by Forest Service, USDA on Flickr
