DeLauro Blasts Labor Dept., Trump Admin For Shuttering Job Corps, Day After Court Ruling

NEW HAVEN, CT — A day after a federal judge in New York gave a brief extension of his temporarily order blocking the Department of Labor from shuttering Job Corps training centers in the U.S., including the New Haven center, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro bashed Labor and the Trump Administration. She called on the Trump Administration "to reinstate full operations in New Haven and every center across the country, and to comply with the law."

"Job Corps is a lifeline for thousands of young people in Connecticut and across the country, who rely on it for critical job training and career education," DeLauro said. "The Trump administration, which has claimed falsely to be on the side of workers, is already pursuing their plan to eliminate Job Corps—illegally shuttering Job Corps sites and pausing operations across the country. Just a few weeks ago President Trump said he wanted to ‘Make America Skilled Again.’ Now, he is pulling the plug on a program that does just that."

As reported in Bloomberg, and as found in the Southern District of New York court documents, Tuesday, SDNY federal Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. questioned Labor and Trump's "arguments that shutting down operations at nearly 100 Job Corps centers nationwide is different from ending the program entirely—something that only Congress can approve."

In late May, Labor said it was doing a phased shut-down of Job Corps centers across the county — New Haven and Hartford's programs' among them — noting its decision "aligns with the President’s FY 2026 budget proposal and reflects the Administration’s commitment to ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results for both students and taxpayers."

The "pause of operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers will occur by June 30," DOL noted. Following Trump's Labor department announcement, the National Job Corps Association, some Corps contractors, and a student sued.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker also called out the Administration. And did not mince words.
"Once again, the Trump Administration, with no notice, attempted to cut important programs that people in our community rely on. President Trump’s callous sudden disruption to Job Corps meant that the jobs of 149 students and 88 staffs were put in limbo and nine individuals’ housing was set to be suspended with less than a weeks’ notice," Elicker told Patch.

He added that given the federal judge's temporary freeze, "thankfully, no Job Corps youth have been asked to leave their housing yet."

The freeze deadline ends Wednesday.

Launched the careers of thousands of young adults since 1996

DeLauro said the New Haven Job Corps Center has "launched the careers of thousands of young adults in a variety of fields since 1996" with career technical and academic training for low income people from 16 to 24.

"The Department of Labor’s decision to close New Haven’s Job Corps Center disrupts the learning of our youth, and in some cases, it has left students with nowhere left to go. These are young people without families and community support who rely on Job Corps to support them," DeLauro said. "If they are forced to leave the center, some students face homelessness. That is unacceptable."

Elicker shared how vital the jobs program aimed at low income young people is in the community.

"The American Jobs Center is enrolling youth in programs to ensure they can continue workforce training," Elicker said. "The City is working collaboratively with Job Corps and our local partners - Youth Continuum, the Coordinated Access Network, and shelters to develop contingency plans to help support if needed."