Trump, House GOP Job Training Cuts Hurts Made in America

Trump has deemed this “Made in America” week and says he wants to make more products in America again. However, the House Republican budget released today and Trump’s budget would both significantly cut the Labor Department’s budget. Trump’s budget would also cut job training programs that will allow more workers to obtain the skills needed to fill new jobs that incentivize companies to make products in America again.

 

The House Republican budget would cut the Labor Department’s budget, along with nearly every other agency and department, by $5 billion.

Associated Press: “House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a budget that proposes trillions of dollars in cuts to the social safety net and other domestic programs while sharply boosting military spending, a blueprint that elicited criticism from conservatives and moderates.”

House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmouth: “It Embraces The Worst Extremes Of The Trump Budget, Sacrificing Nearly Every Investment That Helps American Families Get Ahead… It Puts Education, Job Training, Transportation, Medical Research, And Veterans’ Healthcare At Risk.”

 

Trump wants to slash the Labor Department’s budget by $2.4 billion – or roughly 20 percent – and targeted more than half of the cuts at job training programs.

Bloomberg“The White House asked to reduce Labor Department spending by $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2018, a roughly 20 percent decrease that would largely be accomplished by slashing the nation’s workforce training programs.”

Wall Street Journal“Reduced spending on training accounts for more than half of total reduction to the Labor Department’s budget.”

 

Trump’s budget would cut job training program grants by almost 40 percent.

Bloomberg: “President Donald Trump May 23 requested a $1.3 billion cut in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants for adult, youth, and dislocated worker training programs that have previously garnered bipartisan support. That would represent a 39 percent reduction.”

 

Trump proposed eliminating job training programs for older Americans and disadvantaged youths.

Wall Street Journal: “The budget proposes to eliminate the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which provides part-time work to unemployed, low-income people 55 and older. The program intends to transition those workers to unsubsidized employment. Cutting the program would save the Labor Department $434 million, according to the White House budget released Tuesday.”

Washington Post: “The administration would also shrink Job Corps, a program that provides workplace training for disadvantaged youth, by closing centers that ‘do a poor job educating and preparing students’ for the labor force.”

 

Trump proposed eliminating a job training program for farm workers.

Wall Street Journal: “Also cut would be an $82 million program aimed at training migrant and seasonal farm workers. In both cases, the administration said those workers would be eligible for similar services through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, a separate Labor Department division.”

 

Trump wants to eliminate funding for grants to train workers in dangerous jobs.

Huffington Post: “The proposal would cut what are known as Harwood grants, which are doled out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The grants fund non-profits to train workers in dangerous jobs. Backers say the grants help save money by reducing costly on-the-job injuries and deaths.”