In a significant judicial decision, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday to prevent the U.S. Department of Labor from terminating the Job Corps program until a pending lawsuit is concluded. This program, crucial for low-income youth, strives to provide educational and vocational opportunities through residential centers that offer housing, meals, and healthcare for free.
This action strengthens the temporary restraining order previously issued by U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter, directing the Labor Department to halt any efforts to remove Job Corps students from their accommodations, terminate positions, or suspend the overall operation without congressional consent. Designed in 1964, Job Corps plays a critical role in assisting young adults and teenagers who have difficulty completing conventional high school and securing employment.
Judge Carter highlighted that the Department of Labor (DOL) is bound by Congressional mandate; hence it cannot independently dismantle programs like Job Corps, which are created and funded through legislation. The department must enforce these programs as intended by Congress, he elaborated in his ruling.
Spokesperson for the Department of Labor, Aaron Britt, noted that the department is closely collaborating with the Department of Justice to assess the implications of the injunction, expressing confidence that their actions align with legal provisions. In late May, the Labor Department announced a halt in operations across contractor-operated Job Corps centers, citing escalating taxpayer costs and underwhelming participant outcomes, including low graduation rates and soaring budget inefficiencies.
White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, defended the decision by Secretary DeRemer to reassess underperforming operations facing a $140 million deficit and wanting to address significant safety issues at Job Corps centers. Rogers asserted that the court overstepped its jurisdiction, and the administration anticipates a favorable resolution.
Judge Carter refuted the Department’s reasoning that it was merely pausing, not closing, activities. He stated that the manner and context of the discontinuance clearly pointed to a closure attempt. He also cited the potential harm the closure could inflict on students dependent on the privately run Job Corps centers. One such student, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, risks losing progress towards a culinary certificate and faces imminent homelessness if the program ceases.
The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department emphasized that the decision prevents any shutdown of the centers, pending legislative measures. It echoed the necessity of respecting congressional mandates and applauded the students embodying the American dream through Job Corps.
Many students, facing center closures, were displaced, seeking refuge in homeless shelters. Edward DeJesus, CEO of Social Capital Builders, remarked on the detrimental effects of such abrupt closures on young adults striving for positive change. The National Job Corps Association, encompassing various organizations, legally challenged the suspension, arguing it would uproot thousands of vulnerable youths and cause massive layoffs.
Support poured in from the attorneys general of 20 states, who backed the group’s motion for a preliminary injunction. Among the impacted students, Monet Campbell’s story stands out. Having discovered Job Corps while in a homeless shelter, the 21-year-old achieved multiple certifications through the program and now works at a nursing home. Campbell, who plans to further her studies in nursing, attributes her transformation to the comprehensive support she received from Job Corps.
Despite the progress made, Campbell and others at the New Haven center remain uncertain about their future, having briefly relocated due to funding cuts. Across the nation, 123 Job Corps centers serve over 20,000 students, most managed by private entities in collaboration with the Department of Labor.