Job Corps shutdown would displace thousands of young trainees

Axios

14 hours ago

The Trump administration's move to shutter the nation's largest job training program for low-income youth has been blocked — at least for now — by a federal judge.
Why it matters: Job Corps, which served over 29,000 students this year, has long been a lifeline for low-income youth — especially in underserved communities — offering job training, housing, and a path forward.
The program was set to shutter June 30. Wednesday's federal court decision temporarily halts those closures, offering reprieve for students, staff and cities nationwide.
Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter ruled that the administration lacked congressional authority to abruptly terminate the 60-year-old program, issuing a preliminary injunction while the lawsuit proceeds.
What they're saying: The National Job Corps Association said Wednesday's preliminary injunction "is a lifeline."
"It returns some stability to students who were displaced — some living in shelters — and to the communities that rely on Job Corps for skilled workers."
State of play: Job Corps centers were set to close include locations in cities with large Black populations— like Cleveland, Gary, Miami, New Orleans, and Brooklyn —where the program has been an essential resource for underserved youth.
Zoom in: Job Corps, though created under Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, isn't just a relic of the past. It's still shaping lives and has trained more than two million youth over six decades. Former students have gone on to become electricians, nurses and small business owners.
Case in point: George Foreman, one of its earliest success stories, once said the program " saved my life."
The big picture: The Trump administration's plan to shutter contractor-run Job Corps centers by June 30 has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
The lawsuit argues the closures are illegal without congressional approval.
Zoom out: The cutbacks mirror broader federal rollbacks on diversity initiatives, education equity, and youth mental health investments under Trump 2.0.
The latest: Job Corps closures are hitting major cities hard — including the Atlanta area, Detroit, Chicago, Florida, New York and the Bay Area — where thousands of students ages 16–24 rely on the program for both job training and housing.
Some were left scrambling after losing federal contracts; centers abruptly shut their doors.
What they're saying: Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the country's largest unions, said the AFT is working with government, labor, and industry to expand high-quality, paid apprenticeships — a critical pathway for the 40% of students who don't attend college.
She called the Trump administration's move to pause Job Corps "cruel and destabilizing," adding: "If you care about giving young people a shot at a better life, you don't kick them out on the street."
"We urge the administration: Do not turn your backs on these students."
The other side: The Labor Department says the program is underperforming, citing a $213M deficit, low graduation rates, and serious safety issues as reasons for the pause.
A spokesperson told Axios the department is "working closely with the Department of Justice to evaluate and comply with the temporary restraining order."
"We remain confident that our actions are consistent with the law," they said.
Between the lines: The Trump administration has promoted rising wages for blue-collar workers. But critics say gutting Job Corps — a longstanding training pipeline — undercuts that progress and disproportionately harms Black and Brown youth.
Marcus W. Robinson, a DNC spokesperson, said the program has long been a lifeline for young Black men. In 2024, nearly 50% of Job Corps participants were Black youth, according to federal data.
"Trump's repeated attempts to slash it aren't just policy choices — they're attacks on Black progress," he said. "If he gets his way, another pathway to opportunity will be closed — and that seems to be the goal."