Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group Urging Trump Admin to Reverse Closure of Job Corps Centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of Appropriations Committee members led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) in sending a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the DOL to reverse its decision to close Job Corps Centers nationwide.

“The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps.”

“Job Corps has helped millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964,” they continued. “The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.”

“Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps Centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers,” the Senators concluded.

The letter was also signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Senator Baldwin has been strongly opposed to President Trump’s moves to close down Job Corps sites, including the one in Milwaukee. During President Trump’s first term, Senator Baldwin blocked the administration from trying to close a Job Corps center near Laona that provides economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin. At a hearing for President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal in May, Senator Baldwin pressed DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer on proposed cuts to workforce training programs, including the Job Corps program. After the Trump Administration announced a new round of cuts in May, Senator Baldwin demanded they reverse course on the decision to shutter Job Corps training sites across the country.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer:

The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation. We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps. That includes funding to enroll students in Job Corps Centers for the new program year that starts July 1, 2025. We expect the Department to prevent any interruptions or delays in serving students or program options by making the necessary changes or extensions to contracts and quickly restarting background checks.

Job Corps has served millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964. Today, many jobs require training beyond a high school diploma but not a college degree, including those of strategic national importance, such as electricians needed to build data centers to power artificial intelligence, machinists, pipefitters, and welders to manufacture the next generation of submarines and destroyers, wildland firefighters to keep our communities safe, and nurses to help care for our families. Job Corps is one of the few national programs that fills the gap by recruiting young people who are out of the labor force and providing them with the career and technical education to address these critical workforce needs.

Job Corps Centers contribute to their local communities and economies. They have developed partnerships with employers, local workforce development boards, local government agencies, and community-based organizations. The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.

Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers. Thank you for your attention to this request, and we request your prompt reply no later than June 24, 2025.

Sincerely,

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.