Baldwin Slams Trump Administrations’ Cuts to Vital Job Training Program for Wisconsin Workers, Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it is cutting funding for Job Corps and closing centers nationwide, including in Milwaukee.

“Wisconsin is a state that makes things, but without a skilled workforce, our state risks losing that vital part of our identity and economy. Job training programs like Job Corps are a proven way to connect more Wisconsinites with careers that in turn fuel our economy,” said Senator Baldwin. “Congress appropriated funding for Job Corps, and the Trump Administration can’t just decide to not spend it because they want to make room for tax cuts for billionaires. At a time when Wisconsin businesses are demanding more skilled workers, the Trump Administration is cutting vital resources that put Wisconsinites on a fast-track to good-paying jobs in nursing, manufacturing, and the trades. Gutting Job Corps is a step in the wrong direction, exacerbating our state’s workforce shortage, locking students out of good-paying jobs, and hurting our Made in Wisconsin economy and businesses who rely on skilled workers to compete and grow.”

Job Corps is the nation’s largest free, residential career training and education program for low-income young adults ages 16 through 24. Since 1964, three million students graduated from Job Corps. However, Thursday the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it will begin shutting down contractor operated Job Corp centers nationwide, including in Milwaukee, jeopardizing job training for Wisconsin students and local communities.

Senator Baldwin has been a champion for workforce training and apprenticeship programs, including Job Corps. 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 last week, Senator Baldwin pressed DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer on proposed cuts to workforce training programs, including the Job Corps program.

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.