Lawmakers in both the House and Senate were on recess this week and are expected to return next week to address a growing list of agenda items, including a forthcoming budget reconciliation package and the upcoming 2026 federal fiscal year (FY26) appropriations process. Elsewhere, Senators finalized and circulated a letter calling for strengthened investments in Career Technical Education (CTE), while the U.S. Department of Labor announced a “pause” for the Job Corps program and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on apprenticeships.
Lawmakers Set to Return Next Week
Congress remained on recess this week following the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Next week, Senators will return to Capitol Hill with budget reconciliation on their minds and schedules. As shared last week, the House narrowly passed its version of budget reconciliation prior to the current recess period. The reconciliation process in the Senate is governed by stricter procedural requirements, some of which may narrow aspects of the legislation as the process continues to move forward. Any changes to the bill made in the Senate will then be sent back to the House for a vote. The House Republicans’ inclusion of a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation bill creates additional pressure for passage in the early summer months when the Trump administration has indicated the nation will reach its current borrowing authority.
As Congress gets back to work, the Trump administration was expected to release a second budget request for fiscal year 2026 (FY26)– a more detailed request than the ‘skinny budget’ announced earlier this month. However, most recently, the administration has indicated this more detailed budget will now likely be released after budget reconciliation efforts in Congress have concluded. A potential rescission package is also expected from the administration, which will likely seek to codify actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to unilaterally cut federal funding streams across several areas of the federal government.
Advance CTE will continue to report on the budget reconciliation process and its impacts on the Career Technical Education (CTE) community and broader workforce and education policy landscape.
Perkins FY26 Funding Letter
This week, a group of Senators sent a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging them to strengthen the federal investment in CTE programs through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). The request asks explicitly for increased investment in CTE through the Title I Basic State Grant in fiscal year 2026 (FY26). In the letter, Senators highlight for appropriators that nearly 12 million learners rely on high-quality CTE programs to gain skills in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and STEM. It emphasizes that current funding levels have not kept pace with inflation despite growing student demand, limited program capacity, and the need for industry-standard equipment upgrades. Read the letter signed by 40 Senators here.
The FY26 appropriations process is beginning to garner more attention from members in the Senate, as House appropriators have set a schedule for the coming process as previously reported. Advance CTE will continue to advocate for strengthened federal investments in Perkins V and other critical funding streams in support of CTE throughout these processes currently underway in Congress.
GAO Publishes Study on Apprenticeships
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report this week titled “Apprenticeship: Earn-And-Learn Opportunities Can Benefit Workers and Employers” that highlights the advantages of earn-and-learn programs for learners, workers, and employers. Programs like Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) combine paid on-the-job training with mentorship opportunities and classroom instruction, leading to higher wages and industry-recognized credentials.
The report identifies federal programs across five executive branch departments – the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, Labor, and Veterans Affairs – that can support registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs) but found that many are not currently structured to support every component of these programs. The report attempts to compare outcomes between RAP participants and CTE learners while acknowledging significant limitations in data collection and the challenges in comparing programs with similar but distinct purposes and target populations. Read the GAO report here.
Advance CTE continues to advocate for a new National Apprenticeship Act (NAA)– legislation that the report makes clear is essential to grow and expand apprenticeship programs and opportunities across the country. Read Advance CTE’s federal apprenticeship recommendations here.
DOL Abruptly Pauses Job Corps Contracts
This week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a “phased pause” in operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide. The decision follows an internal review conducted by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) that examined the program, including Job Corps participant earnings and employment outcomes.
According to DOL, the pause is intended to facilitate the transition of students and staff to other workforce development programs in states and local communities. The department has indicated that this action aligns with President Trump’s FY26 budget proposal, released earlier this year. Read the announcement here.
The move comes amid concerns raised at recent hearings on Capitol Hill from lawmakers regarding the program’s future. For instance, last week, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) urged Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer to reverse the halt of new enrollment at Maine’s two Job Corps centers, following up on a letter she sent to DOL earlier this year. Read the exchange from the hearing here.
ED Appoints Senior Advisor to Oversee IES Rebuild
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that Dr. Amber Northern will serve as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Education, leading reforms at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). In her role, she will advise the acting director at IES, Dr. Matthew Soldner, and leaders to deliver high-quality research, relevant data, and best practices for researchers and education leaders.
“I know that the education community values the role that the federal government plays in Research & Development and I look forward to working with [ED] on this rebuild,” Dr. Northern said as part of the announcement. Read the full press release here. Advance CTE continues to monitor these efforts closely, particularly following the abrupt cancellation of the National Evaluation of Career and Technical Education for Perkins (NECTEP) earlier this year.