Federal Job Corps Centers Closing Nationwide Amid Funding Deficit, Displacing Hundreds

The federal government is shutting down all Job Corps centers nationwide by June 30, 2025, including significant centers in Chicago, Philadelphia, Long Beach, the Inland Empire, Tongue Point, and Vergennes. The Department of Labor cites a $140 million deficit, low graduation rates, and safety concerns as reasons for the closure, with an average annual cost per student exceeding $80,000. The closures leave hundreds of vulnerable young adults, many of whom rely on the centers for housing, education, and vocational training, at risk of homelessness and uncertain futures. Staff layoffs are imminent, and program providers have filed a lawsuit challenging the shutdown as illegal, warning of devastating impacts on both students and local economies. Despite federal claims, center staff and students argue that the program provides critical opportunities and that reported statistics do not fully represent the program’s success or safety. The closures mark the end of a decades-long federal program aimed at helping at-risk youth gain skills and self-sufficiency, raising concerns about gaps in support for disadvantaged populations.