Velázquez Urges Labor Secretary to Reverse Cuts to Puerto Rico Job Corps Centers
WASHINGTON- Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) led a letter urging U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to reverse the Trump administration’s decision to phase out operations of contract operated Job Corp centers nationwide by the end of June 2025. The letter focuses on the devastating impact this policy would have on Puerto Rico, where the Job Corps program serves hundreds of low-income youth.
“The work carried out by the Puerto Rico Job Corps centers is a necessity, wrote the lawmakers. “Their holistic approach enables students not only to earn their high school diploma but also to transition into stable employment that allows them to support themselves and their families. The federal government cannot afford to eliminate programs that offer a lifeline to thousands of low-income youth and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The Job Corps program in Puerto Rico currently serves nearly 700 young individuals through its centers in Arecibo (Garrochales) and Aguadilla (Ramey). Both centers offer a wide array of industry-recognized certifications, including healthcare, construction, technology and culinary arts, often leading directly to employment. In addition to workforce training, students can earn high school diplomas, access health and dental care, receive housing, meals, and a basic living allowance, and participate in volunteer projects that strengthen community ties.
In the letter, the lawmakers warn that ending support for these centers would hurt both students and the local economy.
“Terminating support for the Puerto Rico Job Corps program beyond the June 30, 2025 deadline would jeopardize the well-being of hundreds of student participants, leaving at least 287 without housing and the critical resources for success,” continued the lawmakers. “It would also result in the loss of an estimated 240 jobs and disrupt vital partnerships with local suppliers and contractors.
The letter also emphasizes that both Puerto Rico Job Corps centers are among the top-performing nationwide, based on metrics such as training completion and program retention. Lawmakers also pointed to the island’s high youth unemployment and poverty rates as further evidence of the need for these programs.
The lawmakers asked for written responses by June 23rd of the following questions:
1. What specific data informed the decision to phase out contract-operated Job Corps centers in Puerto Rico by June 2025?
2. Has DOL conducted an impact assessment of this decision, particularly on centers like those in Puerto Rico that rank among the top nationally?
3. How will DOL ensure that students currently enrolled are not left without housing, food, or access to training and healthcare services?
4. What criteria will DOL use to determine if a center should remain open under a different operating structure?
5. Will DOL commit to pausing implementation of this policy while Congress reviews the implications and stakeholders are consulted?
Separately, a federal judge in New York provisionally blocked the Department of Labor’s planned closures of Job Corps centers on June 4, issuing a temporary restraining order. The court has scheduled a hearing for today, June 17, that will help determine whether the department must halt its phase-out efforts nationwide, including the Puerto Rico centers.
The letter is backed by firsthand accounts from Job Corps students and graduates in Puerto Rico, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their privacy. Their stories highlight just how critical these centers are in helping young people complete their education, gain job skills, and build a better future. To read their stories, click here.
In addition to Velázquez, the letter was signed by Reps. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Pablo José Hernández (D-PR).
For a full copy of the letter, click here.
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