As of June 3, when Sierra Nevada Job Corps staff scrambled to mount a graduation ceremony for 70-plus graduates—a week early due to a shutdown order from the Department of Labor—the program’s fate was in limbo.
As of press time, three weeks later, things are still in limbo.
The shutdown has been pushed back three times. (Update as of June 26: four times.) The Department of Labor has restricted those involved from speaking with the press, and a few local organizations have been working to offer partial solutions.
Here’s a partial timeline of what we know, and an update on who’s helping.
May 29—The Department of Labor orders Job Corps—the free, federally funded, residential education and job training program for low-income students ages 16 to 24—to close within days. Amid a wave of bipartisan pushback, Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen urges the Trump administration to halt the shutdown, saying, “A stop work order would have immediate and severe impacts in Nevada, cutting off our youth population from critical job training needed to build the skills necessary to secure and maintain good-paying jobs.”
June 3—The National Job Corps Association files a motion for a temporary restraining order to delay the shutdown.
June 4—The restraining order is granted, temporarily freezing the shutdown. A hearing is scheduled for June 14. It is later pushed to June 17.
June 5—More than 200 members of Congress sign a letter urging Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to keep Job Corps open. Nevada’s four representatives are among them.
June 17—A federal judge extends the shutdown freeze through June 25.
The following development was added for the online version of this article on June 26:
June 25—A federal judge issues a preliminary injunction, again pausing the closure until the ongoing lawsuit settled. SNJC encourages any students who have left its Stead campus in recent months to return.
We sent this issue of the RN&R to the printer on June 24. As of press time, with the future of Job Corps uncertain, we spoke with two local groups that were preparing to place Job Corps students, and one group that already had.
Truckee Meadows Habitat for Humanity currently has two Job Corps students on staff at ReStore, its construction-supply and thrift shop in Sparks. One is a cashier; the other helps receive donations. Executive director Bridgette Boswell said that a few Job Corps students typically work with the organization as volunteers on home builds for three-month assignments. The two students who are now on staff are paid.
“Due to the recent news regarding the program, we have offered them the opportunity to remain on staff for as long as they like,” Boswell said.
When asked if the group plans to hire additional Job Corps students if the program shuts down, Boswell said, “I wish we could; they have been excellent.” However, the budget does not allow for additional employees.
Jillian Keller, the chief operating officer of Eddy House, attended SNJC’s June 3 graduation ceremony to let students know about her organization, which is Reno’s shelter for unhoused young people. She and her staff began preparing extra beds and gathering extra supplies that week. She said in a June 20 email that, as of then, no Job Corps students had entered the shelter.
The RISE Academy for Adult Achievement, run by the Washoe County School District, is preparing to enroll a few dozen Job Corps students if necessary.
“We are prepared to enroll somewhere around 35 students, but we are able and willing to accept any of the students they have,” said assistant principal Dawn Adams. (She added that enrollees must be 18 or older.)
A larger influx would likely necessitate hiring a couple of additional part-time teachers, but Adams said this is doable. RISE offers a high school equivalency diploma but does not offer vocational training or housing.
“Our counselors work with any and all community resources,” Adams said. “But from my understanding, there are just not a lot out there. … That was our biggest concern. We can help on the educational end, but if someone doesn’t have a home, it doesn’t really matter what kind of educational program we have to offer.”