Written by: Mariah Isom (@ma.riahh)

All over the media reports shouted that the Job Corps is closing down even with students being months away from graduating are now packing and leaving with nothing to show for it. Other students faced with being unhoused and jobless when the Job Corps program was stability for those students. The outrage was so loud now media outlets are reporting pausing the Job Corps program.

Let’s take a step back and really understand the program Job Corps. The Job Corps Program is a free, federal program that provides educational and vocational training for young people aged 16-24 and most Job Corps centers provide students with housing, meals, and living allowance. Every feature comes free to eligible students while the student receives training. Training programs offered to most Job Corps Programs, healthcare, homeland security, transportation, automotive, and more. The pause of the program began May 29th and is expected to be fully implemented by June 30th, 2025. Many students took to social media to express their hurt; most students are getting kicked out before completing their training. 25,000 people at 120 Job Corps Centers would have been out of training and housing. According to Google, a federal judge has issued a restraining order on Wednesday June 4th, to block the trump administration’s attempt to shut down The Job Corps. The restraining order prevents the government from cutting Job Corps or stopping operations at Job Corps centers until a further ruling.

If the government is taking away The Job Corps programs what will come to replace these types of programs? Ivy Tech Community College is a good resource that offers free Next Level Jobs free to eligible students. Indiana DWD offers free training programs for those who qualify. Contact your local automotive shops, some optical places offer programs that can get you certified, and do not forget your local community colleges offer a lot of free training programs for eligible students. High school students, juniors and seniors need to ask your guidance counselor about training programs their high school offers to their graduating students.