Senator Collins’ Statement on DOL’s Pause on Job Corps Operations
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) phased pause in operations at Job Corps centers nationwide.
“I strongly oppose the Department of Labor’s directive to pause operations at Job Corps centers in Maine and across the country. Serving nearly 500 students in Maine, the Loring Job Corps Center and the Penobscot Job Corps Center have become important pillars of support for some of our most disadvantaged young adults.
“That’s why at an Appropriations hearing just last week, I urged Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to resume enrollment at Maine’s two Job Corps centers and to reverse the Department’s proposed elimination of the Job Corps program.
“As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to work to support this valuable program.”
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At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for DOL last week, Senator Collins spoke about Adais Viruet-Torres, a graduate of Loring Job Corps Center and Husson University who overcame homelessness and now works as a nurse practitioner.
In April, Senator Collins sent a letter to Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging DOL to lift the halt on enrollment at Loring Job Corps Center and Penobscot Job Corps Center.
Yesterday, Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter Secretary Chavez-DeRemer requesting DOL to provide information on Job Corps contracts, background check processing, and evaluation plan.
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