The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a nationwide suspension of operations at 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers including the David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center in East El Paso. The decision effective June 30 2025 threatens the future of the program which offers free career training housing and job placement for low-income youth aged 16 to 24. Here’s what’s happening and what it means for El Paso.
Why Is Job Corps Closing?
The Department of Labor under Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the suspension on May 29 2025 citing a critical April 2025 transparency report. The report exposed a 32% graduation rate and 14913 safety incidents in 2023 including violence and drug use with the program costing $1.7 billion annually. The Trump administration labeled Job Corps unsustainable stating it fails to deliver results and endangers students. While 24 USDA-run centers will continue operating the 99 contractor-run sites like El Paso’s face closure by June 30 with students sent home.
Impact on El Paso
The David L. Carrasco Center has been a vital resource for El Paso’s low-income youth providing training in fields like construction and healthcare. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar called the suspension “cruel” and a “massive loss” for the community and its workforce. The closure could worsen youth unemployment in El Paso disrupting hundreds of students’ career paths and straining the local economy.
The Labor Department plans an “orderly transition” for students and staff but hasn’t clarified if centers might reopen or what alternatives exist. El Paso officials are scrambling to find solutions for affected students. The suspension ties into broader federal budget cuts including a January 2025 hiring freeze across agencies.
