Press Releases

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Maxine Waters (CA-43), as well as LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, labor leaders, and Job Corps graduates rallied outside the LA Job Corps Center to demand that the Trump administration reverse its harmful decision to shut down all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by June 30. The Job Corps program provides free vocational training, housing, and GED programs for young people ages 16-24, especially those from underserved communities.

“Job Corps isn’t just about teaching basic skills—it creates real opportunity and has launched tens of thousands of young people into successful careers,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Shutting down job corps doesn’t just hurt these students — it hurts our economy. This program has saved taxpayers millions by helping at-risk youth become self-sufficient. We can’t let the administration take that away.”

“[Congress] included funding to enroll students in Job Corps centers for the new program year starting in 2025, and the administration must faithfully implement Job Corps with the resources Congress appropriated,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43). “Ending it now without congressional approval would be yet another example of this administration’s disregard for Congress and our constitutional role in federal spending.”

“Many of these students will be the first in their families to earn a high school diploma or GED, an apprenticeship certificate, or go on to college,” said Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor and former Department of Labor Secretary. “I’ve seen Job Corps graduates thrive in the healthcare industry and culinary arts, and many more.”

“Since coming to Job Corps, I had to teach myself basic math. I’ve earned my BLS certification and CNA certification, and now, my classmates and I are just four months away from getting our LDN licenses. Job Corps gave me the chance to build a better future,” said Emily, an LA Job Corps graduate and a constituent of Rep. Gomez.

Job Corps, established in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act, has long had broad bipartisan support, serving more than 2 million people. It equips young people with real job skills, helping them earn diplomas and certifications to secure good-paying jobs in high-demand trades. But under Trump’s Project 2025 — an extremist conservative blueprint to dismantle federal social programs — his administration is cutting off these vital supports.

Rep. Gomez has been fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on working families, including efforts to stop illegal funding freezes and extremist cuts. Earlier this year, he visited Echo Park CDC Head Start to hear from parents about the harm these actions could cause. He and his colleagues also rallied at the U.S. Treasury Department to demand answers about Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to Americans’ sensitive financial data, including Social Security numbers, as well as bank and routing account information. Trump is still pushing cuts even after public pressure and some injunctions from lower courts forced the White House to reverse its blanket funding freeze — and with Project 2025 architect Russell Vought now leading the Office of Management and Budget, Rep. Gomez is holding the line in Congress to protect these essential programs.