The U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to temporarily halt operations at Job Corps centers is beginning to ripple across the country as locations begin shutting their doors. The pause comes as part of an internal review aimed at reshaping the 50-year-old program to align with President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget. Young adults reliant on the program said the sudden change has them questioning what’s next for their futures.
When the announcement was made on May 29, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer acknowledged that the Job Corps program has helped many young people improve their lives. However, she said recent incident reports suggest the program is not producing the positive outcomes it was designed to deliver and has put students in danger.
What is Job Corps?
Job Corps is a federally funded, national residential career training program that helps young people ages 16 to 24 finish high school and prepare for the workforce, according to its website. Students who are eligible get room and board for up to three years at facilities across the U.S.
What happens to students, staff and faculty?
Come June 30, students across the nation will be sent home, but some have said they won’t have a roof over their heads. After the news broke, videos quickly surfaced on social media platforms like TikTok, where current Job Corps students and alumni shared personal stories about their experiences in the program.
One user shared why he and his brothers attended the program.
“The reason we went, both of our parents were drug addicts at the time, we didn’t have nowhere to go, to stay,” he said.
Another TikTok account posted a video with the caption, “Day 2 Job Corps is shut down today and all my friends who are homeless are going to struggle bc of Trump.”
The National Job Corps Association, an industry nonprofit that employs lobbyists to promote its members’ interests, said more than 4,500 students in the program were homeless prior to joining. The organization said that they account for about 20% of students nationwide. On campuses, they can make up around 50% of students. On Jun. 3, the NJCA filed a temporary restraining order to stop the Department of Labor from closing its centers.
“For generations, Job Corps has provided life-changing education and hands-on training to young people looking for a pathway to a better future,” Donna Hay, President and CEO of the National Job Corps Association, said. “These students are often overcoming significant personal and economic challenges and Job Corps gives them the ability to gain the skills they need to build meaningful careers.”
Why are Jobs Corps centers on a pause?
In April, the Labor Department released its first-ever transparency report on Job Corps, revealing the program operated with a $140 million deficit in 2024. The same report projects a larger shortfall in 2025, estimating the deficit could reach $213 million.
That year, the Department of Transportation noted that Biden administration officials paused new Job Corps initiatives to focus on completing existing programs.
Beyond financial concerns, federal officials also pointed to a growing number of serious incidents at Job Corps facilities. In 2023, the program recorded more than 14,900 incident reports, most involving violence, drug use or safety violations. The report also documented 372 cases of sexual assault or inappropriate sexual behavior.
The 2025 report also found a graduation rate of less than 40%.
NJCA refutes the Department of Transportation’s report, releasing their own findings in response. According to the organization, costs have not increased and remained steady between 2018 and 2025, hovering around $1,750,000. NJCA also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on enrollment and utilization rates due to restrictions.
In regard to the safety concerns, NJCA said every minor incident is reported, including tardiness or profanity, which account for 98% of all reports. Officials maintained that students experience lower rates of assault and sexual violence compared to their peers in home communities or on college campuses, and many reported feeling safe on campus as a result.
The “phased pause” affects 99 contract-operated Job Corps centers, which are now suspended from operating, according to the Department of Transportation. Impacted centers are expected to help students transition home safely, while remaining funds will support the pause, maintain records, and assist students with job placement and resources.
The Department of Labor said it’s working with state and local partners to help Job Corps students continue their training, access job opportunities and transfer to other programs.
Democrats pen a letter to Department of Labor
Four congressional Democrats wrote to Secretary Chavez-DeRemer about the decision, urging the department to reverse their “phased pause” of Job Corps centers. U.S. Reps. Kirsten McDonald Rivet, Hillary Scholten, Shri Thanedar and Rashida Tlaib requested a response from the Department of Transportation by June 16 explaining how they will help students with their housing, where students will continue job training and who will oversee their new placements.
“The Department of Labor’s decision to implement a ‘phased pause’ for Job Corps centers throughout the United States, which will impact approximately 25,000 students nationwide,” the letter said. “With centers located in all 50 states, this decision will have broad and far-reaching consequences.”
