The pause is having a major effect on students and their families; many claim they were forced to leave campus with little to no warning.
Students at the Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center in Memphis are seeking attorneys’ help to file a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor.
The students claim that the Department of Labor is breaking its promise and disrupting their futures.
“They should not allow Americans to lose the opportunity for success,” Job Corps student Jederi Elena said.
The Department of Labor announced on Thursday, May 29, that its decision stems from President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget. Officials with the Department of Labor said that budget considerations are requiring them to reevaluate the program’s effectiveness.
The department saidthatbecause of the 2024 deficit of $140 million, the pause is saving $119 million this year.
“When we first got here, we signed contracts saying that we’re going to go to school here… [and] live here. And, in return, they’ll give us our certificates,” Job Corps student Nathalie Viveros Tejeda said.
The Department of Labor said that students at centers affected by the nationwide pause will be transferred to nearby centers to complete their training.
Many students, however, still feel that they’re not receiving support. Several students said that they feel forced to put their plans on hold and move back to their home states, some as farawayas California and Florida.
“After Job Corps, I was planning to move back in with my parents, which isn’t ideal,” Job Corps student Elizabeth Richards said. “I’d love to be on my own, but it’s better than being homeless, which is what a lot of kids are facing.”
According to the Department of Labor, completed certifications will still be valid and transferable.
“I will be able to get into an entry-level job once I get back to Florida, but I can’t say the same for most of the other students that are here with me,” Job Corps student Quadry White said.
The pause affects 25,000 students nationwide.
It is unknown whether students will be compensated for incomplete programs.
While some were able to complete their certifications, others were left feeling empty-handed.
“I am one of those people who did not receive my certification,” Job Corps student Nicholas Clark said. “I’m just left with nothing.”
The Job Corps reported that if this pause leads to long-term funding reductions, other federal education programs could be affected.
The Department of Labor confirms that all Job Corps centers nationwide will be fully paused by June 30, 2025.
The department said that although the Job Corps Center is pausing,it will help students with alternative education and job training opportunities.
Resources for past, current and prospective Job Corps enrollees can be found on the Job Corps website.
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