ST. PAUL, Minn. — On May 29, the US Department of Labor said it would close Job Corps sites across the country by June 6, calling the shuttering a “pause” of a 60-year-old program that has provided job training and housing for over 50,000 young people every year. 162 students at the St. Paul Job Corps location will lose their housing with eight days’ notice, shunting some back into homelessness and cutting short job training that would have helped them enter a skilled trade, jumpstart a career or finish their education.
The Job Corps opened in 1964 and provides free job training and housing to low-income teenagers and young adults. The program helps participants earn diplomas, acquire trade skills and transition into the workforce.
Representative Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), a member on the 2025 Working Group for Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy, released the following statement:
“Throughout my time on the Workforce Committee, I've championed legislation to expand job access and training opportunities for young people because I understand how transformative these programs can be. The Trump administration's decision to slash Job Corps funding represents a direct attack on economic opportunity for thousands of young Americans. This devastating cut strips vulnerable youth—particularly those from low-income, rural, and underserved communities, many experiencing homelessness or aging out of foster care—of their opportunity to gain essential job training and education.
"For decades, this program has empowered young people too often left behind by traditional systems to learn real-world skills, earn diplomas or certifications, and move toward economic independence.
“By eliminating this 60-year-old pathway for at-risk youth to develop marketable skills and secure stable housing, the administration removes proven workforce development that transforms lives and strengthens communities, while creating ripple effects that worsen cycles of poverty and unemployment in areas already struggling with limited access to education and job training. In doing so, the Trump Administration is essentially telling vulnerable young Americans that their potential doesn't matter, their futures don't count, and their communities aren't worth the investment.
“At a time when we should be investing more in our youth and when employers face skilled labor shortages, forcing students to abandon their training mid-program without housing, support systems, or completed credentials sends a harmful message that we're willing to turn our backs on the future potential of an entire generation. By systematically dismantling pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders, the Trump Administration is effectively handing our economic rivals the very talent that built American prosperity.”
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