Letter was signed by nine members of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined a bipartisan group of Senators on the Appropriations Committee—which oversees all government funding—to urge Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to reverse DOL’s decision to begin the closure of Job Corps Centers in Oregon and nationwide.
“Job Corps has helped millions of young people, ages 16 to 24, many of whom face significant economic and social challenges, develop the skills and resilience they need to succeed in work and in life through intensive education, training, and support services in a residential setting since its creation in 1964,” wrote the members of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in their letter to Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “The sudden closure of Job Corps Centers not only puts young people’s lives at risk, but local communities will pay a steep price, especially the thousands of individuals who work at the Centers and will lose their livelihoods.”
The bipartisan letter was led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI). Joining Merkley in signing the letter were Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Boozman (R-AR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
“The sudden announcement that the Department of Labor began the process of closing all Job Corps Centers on May 29, 2025, will harm students and local economies in every state across the nation,” they wrote. “We urge you to retract this announcement and to faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which President Trump signed into law and which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps.”
Merkley previously joined 39 Senate colleagues to demand Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer reverse illegal and unconstitutional cuts to the Job Corps program. He also joined Oregon Democrats in Congress in denouncing the Trump Administration’s move to shut down Job Corps centers in Oregon, including the Tongue Point, PIVOT, and Springdale Centers.
“Abruptly canceling contracts for the nation’s Job Corps Centers will leave students and communities in the lurch and will undermine opportunities for young people to get education and training to succeed in valuable trades. While we would be pleased to work with you to improve the Job Corps program to do even more to serve our young people and address growing workforce needs, it is essential that you faithfully implement the program in accordance with the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution and reopen all Job Corps Centers,” the Senators concluded.
The complete text of the Senate Appropriators’ letter can be read by clicking here.
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