Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed was swift to applaud the federal court on Monday after it ruled last week that prohibited President Donald Trump’s administration from closing Job Corps centers across the country, including in the capital city.
Congress started the Job Corps in 1964 to “assist eligible youth to connect to the labor force by providing them with intensive social, academic, career and technical education, and service-learning opportunities, in primarily residential centers, in order for such youth to obtain secondary school diplomas or recognized postsecondary credentials.”
The Trump Department of Labor called for the elimination of Job Corps funding earlier this year, citing high costs and perceived ineffectiveness. The Labor Department highlighted Job Corps' high cost per student and its low graduation rate.
In Response, several Job Corps students, represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the administration’s attempt to shutter an institution created by Congress without the same body approving its shutdown.
Reed responded on Monday, applauding the court’s decision and boasting of Job Corps’ success in reaching youth.
"Friday’s federal court ruling is a big win for Montgomery and all of Alabama,” Reed said. “Keeping our Job Corps centers open means more young people will continue to have access to training, education, and a real shot at success. Job Corps isn’t just a program — it’s a lifeline. It creates opportunity, reduces unemployment, and gives hope to those who need it most.”
“We’re thankful for this decision, but the fight isn’t over. We need permanent support to protect these vital centers for the future."
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