Last week, the U.S Department of Labor (DOL) announced a pause in operations for contractor-operated Job Corps nationwide, which included the facility in Denison. The decision stems from President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal and the enforcement of federal workforce investments deliver significant results on the students enrolled and taxpayers. According to the first Job Corps Transparency Report, analyzing financial performance and operational costs in 2023 found that the average graduation rate in the program across the nation reported at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student of just over $80,000 a year and over $155,00 per graduate a year. The report also stated participants on average earned less than $20,000 annually after graduation the program and a high number of infractions were reported nationwide throughout facilities from sexual assaults, drug use and more. The Denison campus currently serves over 200 students, with ten percent of them homeless. The DOL informed the facility last Thursday that students must be unenrolled and vacate the premises by this upcoming Friday. The DOL has requested a list of the names of those enrolled by June 12, to help assist in advancing training and connecting with other educational and employment opportunities through state and local workforce partners. Not only are students affected, but the over 120 employees at the campus are also facing uncertainty. Denison Job Corps reports that enrollment nationwide for the program was at 34 percent, but has now increased to 76 percent, with Denison at 81 percent.
