ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The U.S. Department of Labor announced May 29 that they will begin a “phased pause” of some Job Corps centers’ operations. The department said this move is in line with the Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026.

There are over a hundred federally-funded Job Corps centers nationwide, including a center in Albany — the Turner Job Corps Center. These centers are intended to offer at-risk youth academic and employment opportunities.

The Department of Labor said the pause of operations at contractor-operated centers will happen by June 30. They said they will help state and local partners with assisting current students through the transition.

The department said in a press release that the Job Corps program has faced significant financial challenges in its current operating structure.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, “A startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program’s possibilities.”

Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02), who represents South Georgia, released a statement following the department’s announcement.

In the statement, Bishop described the Job Corps program as, “the embodiment of a hand up and not a handout,” and said this pause will, “shatter the dreams and aspirations of tens of thousands of promising students.”

The congressman, who is also the co-chair of the Congressional Job Corps Caucus, went on to say that the program has had strong, bipartisan support for over 60 years. He said he intends to work with other members of Congress to “protect and improve” the program.

The Turner Job Corps Center in Albany appears to still be active at this time. The center is located at 2000 Schilling Avenue.

To read the U.S. Department of Labor’s full announcement, click here.

Read Congressman Bishop’s full statement below:

“The Job Corps program is the embodiment of a hand up and not a handout. It provides workforce skills and training that empower participants to become self-sufficient and productive citizens. Today’s foolish action by the White House and the United States Department of Labor to close the Job Corps program will shatter the dreams and aspirations of tens of thousands of promising students.

For over sixty years, there has been strong, bipartisan support for Job Corps. It has paid tremendous dividends in terms of ensuring that young people become valuable members of the labor force. I intend to work with my Republican colleagues to protect and improve Job Corps to ensure its continued success.”

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