Warner, Kaine condemn closure of Job Corps centers

Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark. Warner and Tim Kaine last week released a joint statement condemning the U.S. Department of Labor‘s decision to shut down contractor-run Job Corps centers throughout the country.

The senators say the move “will abruptly eliminate crucial job training for thousands of young Americans and cut nearly 13,000 jobs across the program’s 99 centers.”

According to a news release from Warner and Kaine, the two affected Job Corps centers in Virginia — Old Dominion in Amherst County and Blue Ridge in Smyth County — collectively serve 163 students, many of whom are homeless or aging out of foster care.

The program provides students aged 16-24 with education, vocational training and job placement assistance. The senators’ news release states that more than 80% of program graduates are employed within six months, resulting in a potential 20% reduction in unemployment in areas with a Job Corps center.

“For decades, the Job Corps program has transformed lives in Virginia and across the country by helping to equip young people with the skills and resources they need to succeed,” Warner said in a statement. “It’s deeply frustrating, and incredibly short-sighted, to see the Trump administration pause operations. We should be investing more in opportunities that lift up our young people, strengthen our workforce, and have a tremendous economic impact in the commonwealth.”

Kaine shared a similar sentiment, saying that Job Corps is “a lifeline for thousands of youths in need.” He said many of the youth who benefit from the program are homeless, in the foster care system or “facing dire socioeconomic circumstances,” but the program has given them direction, taught them hard skills and “set them up for success.”

The DOL announced in a May 29 news release it would begin a phased pause in operations at contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide.

“The decision follows an internal review of the program’s outcome and structure and will be carried out in accordance with available funding, the statutory framework established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and congressional notification requirements,” the department said in a statement. According to the DOL, the pause of operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers will occur by June 30.

“As the transition begins, the department is collaborating with state and local workforce partners to assist current students in advancing their training and connecting them with education and employment opportunities,” the department said.

The DOL says the decision aligns with President Donald Trump‘s fiscal 2026 budget proposal. Tens of thousands of federal jobs this year have been cut in an effort by the Trump administration to slash federal spending.

According to the DOL release, the Job Corps program faced significant financial challenges under its current operating structure. The DOL said that in program year 2024, the program operated at a $140 million deficit. The DOL said the deficit is projected to reach $213 million in PY 2025.

“Of course fiscal and safety concerns with the program need to be addressed,” Kaine said in a statement. “But instead of working to further invest in the program, the Labor Department has made the shameful choice to give up on thousands of vulnerable young Americans, including 163 in Virginia.”

Warner and Kaine say they “vigorously” opposed the Trump administration’s efforts “to roll back crucial federal programs.”

The department’s Employment and Training Administration on April 25 released the first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report, which analyzed the financial performance and operational costs of the most recently available metrics of program year 2023.

The DOL said in a summary of findings from the report that the average graduation rate was 38.6%, the average cost per student per year was about $80,285, the average total cost per graduate was roughly $155,600 and that, post separation, participants earn $16,695 annually on average.

The summary said there were 14,913 serious incident reports for PY 23. According to the release, these reports included 372 instances of inappropriate sexual behavior and sexual assaults, 1,764 acts of violence, 1,167 breaches of safety or security, 2,702 reported drug uses and 1,808 total hospital visits.

“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training and community,” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program’s possibilities.”

Neither Blue Ridge nor Old Dominion Job Corps officials could be successfully reached by press time.