KDSN RADIO News
Lawsuit Challenges Sudden Closure of Denison Job Corps and Others Nationwide
A federal lawsuit filed this week aims to stop the U.S. Department of Labor from eliminating Job Corps centers across the country, including the Denison Job Corps campus. The suit, brought by the National Job Corps Association and several program operators, argues that the May 29 decision to shut down contractor-operated Job Corps centers is illegal and threatens thousands of at-risk youth.
The plaintiffs, including long-standing contractors like Adams and Associates, claim the closure violates federal laws and Department of Labor regulations. They argue the program is essential for young people facing homelessness, poverty, and other challenges by providing education, vocational training, housing, and healthcare.
While the complaint focuses on national impacts, it also highlights how individual campuses—like Denison’s—will be directly affected. The Denison center is one of several operated by private contractors who rely almost entirely on Job Corps funding to serve their students. Its closure could leave local students without support or training options and lead to significant job losses in the community.
The lawsuit urges the court to block the shutdown, citing “irreparable harm” to both students and the organizations that support them. With nearly 1,000 students from New York alone enrolled in affected programs, the plaintiffs argue the ripple effects will be felt nationwide unless the decision is reversed.
