McDonald Rivet, Scholten, Tlaib, Thanedar Call on Department of Labor to Reverse Job Corps Closures

WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), along with Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13) have called on Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to immediately reverse the abrupt decision to pause operations at Job Corps centers nationwide.

On May 29, 2025, the Department of Labor announced a pause for Job Corps centers throughout the United States, impacting approximately 25,000 students across the country who rely on the centers to learn skills essential to securing meaningful employment. In Michigan alone, this decision disrupts the education and training of more than 700 students at Michigan Job Corps centers – including almost 150 at the Genesee County location.

“Job Corps became a home away from home that restored hope, vision, and direction for a lot of young people who felt like prisoners in their hopeless situations,” said Pastor Janard Lakes. “As someone who worked at the Flint Genesee center, I can tell you generations of students from our community avoided a dangerous path thanks to this program.”

“Job Corps is a program that works,” said Tom Lutz, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. “It gives at-risk youth the skills and structure they need to escape cycles of dependence on public benefits, and empowers them to reach for a better life through the trades. Today, 85% of Job Corps completers find meaningful employment, and Job Corps Carpenter Pre-apprentices earn an average of $21.57/hour in their first year. Instead of being canceled, Job Corps should be strengthened and deserves strong, bi-partisan support.” 

The U.S. House Members highlighted the lack of clear communication and planning from the Department of Labor and outlined urgent questions, including who will be responsible for overseeing student transitions to complete their training, when Job Centers will be notified of any programmatic changes after the pause, and how the Department plans to support state and local workforce partners. The letter also urges Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to work with Congress to ensure fiscal responsibility and protect this essential workforce development program.

The letter from the Congressmembers reads, in part, “The Department’s decision to initiate a ‘phased pause’ in operations was made without advance notice to the training centers, leaving staff and students scrambling. This abrupt disruption has destabilized our communities, which rely on these centers. We understand and share the Department’s interest in improving cost-efficiency and long-term effectiveness. Indeed, there is much work to be done to enhance the services here. But an unplanned and abrupt pause in all operations does not support these goals. Instead, it derails the lives of thousands of young people and dedicated staff committed to strengthening our country’s workforce, at a time of great worker shortage across the state.”

A copy of the letter can be found here.