Job Corps contractors sue to block Trump's program closure
A trade group representing contractors that operate Job Corps centers and some of its members claim the U.S. Department of Labor is violating federal law and its own regulations by abruptly shuttering the program, a plan the agency announced last week, opens new tab. The lawsuit, opens new tab was filed in Manhattan federal court.
Job Corps was created by Congress in 1964 and allows 16-to-24-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain high school diplomas or an equivalent, vocational certificates and licenses and on-the-job training. The program currently serves about 25,000 people at 120 Job Corps centers run by contractors.
The Labor Department in announcing the end of the program said it was not cost effective, had a low graduation rate and was not placing participants in stable jobs. The department also said there had been thousands of instances of violence, drug use and security breaches at Job Corps centers.
The National Job Corps Association and other plaintiffs in Tuesday's lawsuit said the Labor Department does not have the power to dismantle a program established and funded by Congress.
"Shuttering Job Corps will have disastrous, irreparable consequences, including displacing tens of thousands of vulnerable young people [and] destroying companies that have long operated Job Corps centers in reliance on the Government's support for the program," they said.
The Labor Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shuttering Job Corps is a small piece of a broader effort by Trump, a Republican, and his appointees to drastically shrink the federal bureaucracy, including by getting rid of some offices and agencies altogether.
But the lawsuit filed on Tuesday said Congress in creating Job Corps also limited the Labor Department's ability to shut down the program. Federal law, for example, allows the department to close individual Job Corps centers only after seeking public comment and notifying local members of Congress, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks to block the Labor Department from closing Job Corps centers and otherwise eliminating the program. The plaintiffs said they would seek an order requiring the program to continue pending the outcome of the lawsuit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Thousands gather to farewell NYPD officer killed in Midtown mass shooting
Thousands gathered to say farewell to the New York City Police Department officer who was killed in Monday's mass shooting in Midtown. The funeral for 36-year-old Didarul Islam took place at the Parkchester Jame Masjid, located on a residential street in the officer's neighborhood in the Bronx, three days after he was killed in the deadliest shooting in the city in a quarter-century, The New York Times noted. The gunman entered the office building at 345 Park Avenue with an assault style-rifle and started to discharge the weapon. He killed Islam and two others before heading to the 33rd floor, where he killed a fourth person, before he died by suicide. Police say the shooter, Shane Tamura, 27, had made his way to New York from his Nevada home, where he was set on targeting the headquarters of the National Football League. Hundreds of officers from as many as 54 of the 77 precincts in the city, as well as from states and counties in the surrounding area, attended the funeral. The streets around the mosque were empty of cars for the proceedings, with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch saying that 'Didarul Islam came to this country as an immigrant with no guarantees, only the hope that hard work, that humility, and that purpose might lead him somewhere meaningful. And it did.' The rituals went on for close to four hours, with separate viewings for men and women. Floral wreaths covered the room, with the casket covered with the Police Department's standard in green, white, and blue. Mayor Eric Adams, himself a former NYPD officer, spoke at the funeral while the winner of the Democratic mayoral primary, Zohran Mamdani, sat with the family, The NYT noted. Islam came to New York City from Bangladesh when he was 20 years old, living in a small house along with his parents, his young sons, and his pregnant wife. In a eulogy read on his wife's behalf, she wrote that Islam had 'lived to help others' and that 'He gave his life protecting them. Though my heart is broken, I find comfort knowing that his sacrifice might have saved others.' Islam, who served in the department for three and a half years, joined the agency after spending two years as a safety agent in city schools. Even as an officer, he spent his time off as a security guard. Islam worked the Dominican Day Parade in the Bronx on Sunday before picking up an additional shift on Monday at 345 Park Avenue. 'He stepped into a new land and chose to become part of its promise, to believe in its dream. And he did believe in the American dream, not as something handed down but as something built with your own hands,' said Tisch. 'He may not be here to see that dream fulfilled, but his sons will surely grow up with its foundation beneath their feet.' Friends and colleagues said Islam was a devoted Muslim. Imam Dr. Zakir Ahmed of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York said during remarks that Islam, 'lived at a time when people like him are too often feared, vilified and made to feel like outsiders.' 'We cannot honor Officer Islam today while ignoring the daily pain endured by his community — being told to go back where you came from, being watched more closely, judged more harshly and loved less fully,' Imam Ahmed added, according to The NYT. 'To our city, our nation, you cannot ask us to serve and then silence us,' he said. 'You cannot take our sacrifice and ignore our suffering.'
Reuters
7 minutes ago
- Reuters
Taiwan government says US tariff rate temporary, will negotiate lower one
TAIPEI, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Taiwan's president and his cabinet said on Friday 20% U.S. tariffs will be "temporary" and the government will continue to advocate for reasonable tariff rates as they complete the final stage of negotiations. "Once a final agreement is reached, the tariff rate is expected to be reduced further," according to a Facebook post from Lai Ching-te, reiterated in a cabinet statement. The comments follow U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order on Thursday imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on U.S. imports from dozens of trading partners and foreign locations. Taiwan's presidential office will hold a press briefing at 11:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) on the tariffs. Taiwan has been seeking to strengthen its trade ties with major partners, particularly the U.S., Taiwan's second-largest trading partner after China, amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges. Taiwan had the sixth-largest trade deficit with the U.S. last year, exporting $73.92 billion more to the U.S. than it took in, according to data from the U.S. and Taiwan governments. The outcome of the discussions could play a key role in shaping the island's future trade strategy and its position in the global supply chain, and is crucial to Taiwan's export-driven economy.
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump insists he's reached 'excellent' tariff deals - but won't give any details
Donald Trump has signed orders for new tariffs to go into effect in seven days on a wide range of US trading partners, including Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and Australia Donald Trump insists he has set "excellent" new tariffs on a range of trading partners - but didn't give any details on these. The US President today stressed his trade agenda will maintain the global economy and sturdiness of alliances his nation has built up over decades. The White House announced agreements with various nations and blocs ahead of the president's self-imposed Friday deadline. The tariffs are being implemented at a later date in order for the rates schedule to be harmonised. Speaking last night, Mr Trump said: "We have made a few deals today that are excellent deals for the country." However, the world leader did not go into any detail on these, such as the nations involved and his senior administration officials also declined to offer more information when asked by reporters. It comes after Mr Trump recently reignited his feud with Sadiq Khan in front of Keir Starmer, with a savage jibe at the London Mayor. The Mirror understands some tariffs have been lowered, and it is thought these include the original 50% threat to Lesotho. It is believed the African nation's goods will now be taxed at 15%. Our understanding is Taiwan will have tariffs set at 20%, and Pakistan at 19%. Israel, Iceland, Norway, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana and Ecuador are among the countries with imported goods taxed at 15%. Switzerland would be tariffed at 39%, it is thought. However, Mr Trump, the former businessman, would not be drawn on commenting on exact arrangements for specific nations. But he did confess: "We haven't spoken to Canada today," in a pertinent reference following a fresh jibe at Mark Carney's nation earlier this week. The US leader had said it would be "very hard" to make a trade deal with Canada after the country became the latest nation to recognise a Palestinian state. He had posted on social media: "Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!!" Yet, Mr Trump had announced a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil, but the order was only 10% as the other 40% were part of a separate measure approved by Mr Trump on Wednesday. One of his first significant moves as president was to impose tariffs on goods from both Mexico and Canada earlier this year. US Census Bureau figures show that the U.S. ran a $171.5 billion trade deficit with Mexico last year.
