Education

Job Corps closure halted as courts step in to protect students’ futures

Saturday, 7 June 2025 12:11AM UTC

The planned shutdown of the Job Corps programme has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge following a legal challenge, amid widespread concern over the impact on vulnerable young adults who rely on the federally funded education, housing, and support services it provides.

The impending closure of the Job Corps program, set to take effect on June 30, has left students at the Edison Job Corps Academy and others across the nation facing an uncertain future. This significant decision, announced by the U.S. Department of Labor, impacts a federal job training initiative designed to assist low-income young adults by providing essential education and vocational training. Amidst rising concerns from students and lawmakers, many now fear losing not only their educational opportunities but also their housing and access to vital support services.

Lawmakers and advocates have denounced the closure, pointing to its abrupt nature and potential consequences. Ashton Stripling, director of the Edison center, expressed alarm over the fate of the 417 students they serve annually, stating, “They are at risk of losing their education, at risk of not having shelter, at risk of not having three hot meals a day.” Stripling, a former Job Corps participant himself, highlighted the program's transformative power, stating he was able to overcome his own adversities through Job Corps, eventually pursuing a Ph.D.

The decision by the Department of Labor, driven by a surge in serious incident reports—including violence, drug use, and sexual misconduct—has sparked debate. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer cited nearly 15,000 such reports in 2023 alone as justification for discontinuing the program, describing them as indicative of a failure to achieve the necessary outcomes for participants. Critics argue that these statistics do not reflect the program's historical achievements and insist that the closure violates legal requirements mandating congressional approval for dismantling a federally established programme.

The situation has taken a legal turn, with a lawsuit filed by contractors and advocates arguing that the Department of Labor’s rapid shutdown plan is unlawful and ignoring processes outlined by federal legislation. This legal action follows the announcement, claiming that only Congress has the authority to disband the program, which has served approximately 25,000 young people across 120 centres nationwide since its inception in 1964. Responding to the lawsuit, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on June 4, halting the closure process and allowing the centres to remain operational while the legal proceedings continue.

This turmoil resonates beyond Edison, with students in cities such as Detroit experiencing similar disruptions. U.S. Representatives from Michigan have vocally opposed the closure, affirming the crucial role the program plays in providing jobs and housing for vulnerable youth. Local organisations are stepping up to support students navigating the fallout, further demonstrating the widespread impacts of the Job Corps’ closure.

Job Corps has traditionally received bipartisan support, but this latest development reflects a broader narrative of governmental restructuring under the Trump administration. Critics view the administration's move as part of an effort to scale back federal initiatives, pushing for reforms that could endanger long-standing programmes geared towards aiding disadvantaged communities. Advocates, including Stripling, are now rallying support to urge a reconsideration of this decision and to provide immediate assistance to the students who stand to lose so much.

As the deadline approaches, the future of Job Corps and the young adults depending on its resources remains precarious, leaving many to ponder where their paths may lead in the absence of this vital initiative.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.nj.com/mosaic/2025/06/nj-students-left-homeless-as-nationwide-job-corps-closure-announced.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/job-corps-contractors-sue-block-trumps-program-closure-2025-06-03/ - Contractors and a trade group associated with the Job Corps program have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to prevent the closure of the federal job training initiative for low-income youth. Filed in Manhattan federal court, the suit argues that the U.S. Department of Labor is acting unlawfully and contradicting federal legislation by abruptly ending the program. Job Corps, established by Congress in 1964, currently serves about 25,000 youth aged 16 to 24 across 120 contractor-run centers nationwide, providing educational credentials and vocational training. The Labor Department, in its closure announcement, cited inefficiencies, low graduation rates, insufficient job placements, and widespread safety issues among its reasons. However, the plaintiffs, including the National Job Corps Association, contend that only Congress has the authority to dismantle the program and that the proper procedures for closing such centers—like public comment and congressional notification—were not followed. The lawsuit forms part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back federal agencies and bureaucracy. Plaintiffs are seeking a court injunction to prevent the program’s termination and maintain operations until the legal proceedings conclude. The Labor Department has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
https://apnews.com/article/a9acc1464ad180a066317fd086865464 - The Trump administration's decision to suspend operations of Job Corps centers has sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers and a federal judge. The Department of Labor cited inefficiencies, safety concerns, and poor outcomes, including a graduation rate under 39% and a $140 million deficit, as reasons for halting the program. However, opponents argue the move would displace tens of thousands of vulnerable youth and force mass layoffs, violating the legal requirement for congressional approval to end a congressionally-created program. Lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, questioned Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer during a congressional hearing, highlighting her prior support for Job Corps and the abrupt policy reversal. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the shutdown, part of a lawsuit filed by the National Job Corps Association, which contends the statistics cited by the administration were misleading and did not reflect the program's historical graduation rates. Critics argue the shutdown is illegal without proper public notice and justification. The program, over 50 years old, provides career training, housing, and support services to low-income youth, and has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.
https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/06/04/detroit-jobs-corps-center-operations-trump - The Detroit Job Corps Center, along with similar centers in Flint, Grand Rapids, and nationwide, has paused operations following a federal directive. The U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees the Job Corps program for youth aged 16 to 24, cited a high number of serious incident reports and fiscal inefficiencies as reasons for the suspension. This unexpected move left many Detroit participants, who depend on the program for housing and job training, scrambling for shelter. U.S. Representatives from Michigan, including Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar, have called for an immediate reversal of the decision, stressing its negative impact on local communities. In response to the initial confusion, the Department of Labor has since released new guidance for program operators. Local workforce organizations like the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and Detroit at Work are expected to support displaced participants during the program's hiatus.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-blocks-trump-administrations-effort-eliminate-job-corps-2025-06-04/ - On June 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to shut down Job Corps, the nation’s largest job training initiative for low-income youth. The move came in response to a lawsuit filed by a trade group representing contractors who operate Job Corps centers. The judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Labor Department from terminating contracts or ceasing operations at the centers until further legal proceedings, with a hearing scheduled for June 17. The lawsuit contends that the Labor Department violated federal law and its own rules by announcing the abrupt closure of the program, which serves approximately 25,000 individuals across 120 centers. Job Corps, created by Congress in 1964, offers education, vocational training, and job placement services to young people aged 16 to 24 from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Labor Department defended its decision, citing inefficiency, low graduation rates, poor job outcomes, and widespread safety issues. Opponents argue that the administration lacks the authority to dismantle a program funded and established by Congress. The attempted closure is part of a broader strategy by former President Trump and his administration to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.
https://apnews.com/article/f88fb92ffb93dbb5a942f8570412ba3f - A federal judge, Deborah L. Boardman, has ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate AmeriCorps grant funding and service members in approximately two dozen states that sued over recent cuts. The decision temporarily blocks the cancellation of grants and early discharge of corps members for those states, which had sued after the administration aimed to reduce costs via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The AmeriCorps State and National program had a $557 million congressional allocation this year, which included $177 million in formula-based distributions and $370 million in competitive grants supporting nearly 35,000 corps members. While Boardman ordered reinstatement for early discharged National Civilian Community Corps members, she allowed the agency to proceed with staff reductions. The lawsuit by Democratic state officials argued that grant cancellations were abrupt and lacked the required public notice. The Department of Justice declined to comment, while AmeriCorps has not responded. The agency, with a $1 billion operating budget, deploys about 200,000 volunteers annually who receive living stipends and education benefits for their service. Despite bipartisan support, AmeriCorps has faced criticism for inefficiencies. The plaintiff states include Maryland, California, New York, and others.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20241219-0 - The Department of Labor announced new actions to secure the long-term stability of the Job Corps program and ensure this critical program operates within Congressionally appropriated funding levels. Specifically, the department will enter into negotiations with contractors who operate the non-federally operated Job Corps Centers nationwide in order to achieve savings that minimally impact services to students at those centers. The department will also temporarily pause operations at the Woodstock Job Corps Center in Woodstock, Maryland, and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center in Simpsonville, Kentucky. For students at the two temporarily paused Job Corps Centers in Woodstock and Simpsonville, transfers will be arranged to nearby centers so they may complete their training. The department will also provide assistance to potentially impacted staff at these centers. Since 1964, the Job Corps Program has been a unique and transformational residential job training program, serving more than three million youth and young adults in all parts of the country. As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to build on the program’s promise and success, the Department of Labor has implemented a “Job Corps 2.0” vision to enhance job training, job placement and student experience. In the last four years, the Job Corps Program has taken a principled and balanced approach to its budget management to more efficiently deliver services in the face of limited funding increases from Congress. However, Job Corps’ budget has remained largely flat for the past several years despite rising program costs. The Job Corps Program recently celebrated 60 years of transformation in the lives of youth and young adults. The Department of Labor has done everything possible during a period of effective budget cuts to continue enhancing job training and student services while taking a principled and balanced approach to cut costs and more efficiently deliver for students. The actions we announce today are part of positioning Job Corps for its next 60 years. It will be up to the incoming administration and the next Congress to follow this roadmap, build on the work of the Biden-Harris administration and continue delivering a transformational program to the youth and young adults served by Job Corps.

Job Corps
U.S. Department of Labor
education
vocational training
federal programs
lawsuit