Department of Labor to Pause Job Corps Center Operations Nationwide by June 2025: Excelsior Springs Braces for Transition

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that all contractor-operated Job Corps centers, including the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center (ESJCC), will begin a phased pause in operations, with full closure expected by June 30, 2025. The decision aligns with President Trump’s FY 2026 budget proposal and confirms growing concern about the future of the federal program that has served young adults in Excelsior Springs since 1966.

The department cited the program’s high operating costs, low graduation rates, and a significant number of disciplinary incidents as the basis for the decision. According to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the program is no longer delivering the outcomes it was designed to achieve.

“A startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve,” said Chavez-DeRemer.

As of now, the Excelsior Springs center, like others across the country, will wind down operations through a structured transition. The Department of Labor says it will work with state and local workforce partners to assist current students in continuing their training or pursuing alternative educational and employment opportunities.

National Program Review Reveals Operational Challenges

Today’s announcement follows the release of the first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report, which reviewed program performance for the 2023 program year. The analysis was provided and published by the Department’s Employment and Training Administration, which oversees the Job Corps program. Key findings included:

• Graduation rate (WIOA definition): 38.6%

• Average cost per student per year: $80,284.65

• Average cost per graduate: $155,600.74

• Average post-program earnings: $16,695 annually

• 14,913 serious incident reports, including:

  • 372 cases of inappropriate sexual behavior or assault

  • 1,764 acts of violence

  • 1,167 safety or security breaches

  • 2,702 reports of drug use

  • 1,808 hospital visits

The report also revealed a $140 million program deficit for 2024, with projections of $213 million in the year ahead if current operations continued.

What It Means for Excelsior Springs

Locally, the closure will impact both the 194 staff members employed at the Excelsior Springs center and the 500+ students it trains each year. The center has long been recognized not only for its vocational training in fields like welding, carpentry, medical assisting, and culinary arts, but also for its active role in the community—volunteering at festivals, assisting local businesses, and supporting school district partnerships.

Students currently enrolled in the program are reacting with a mix of disappointment and resilience. Corben Tackett, a current Job Corps student who previously made a heartfelt appeal for community support on social media, responded to today’s announcement with the following message in the Excelsior Citizen Facebook Group:

“Hello again Excelsior, sadly Job Corps will be getting shut down… I’m thankful for everyone who showed love and support. It got more attention than I thought it would! I hope there will be another program that offers the same amount of opportunity. Most we can do is hope and pray.”

Tackett’s earlier post gained wide attention across the city, drawing more than 17,000 views and hundreds of comments of support. His story, along with those of many peers, has become emblematic of the role Job Corps has played in offering second chances to youth who face barriers in traditional educational paths.

Next Steps and Legislative Role

The Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center has been a local fixture since it opened in March 1966 on the site of a former Veterans Administration Hospital. In recent years, it has built strong partnerships with the Excelsior Springs School District, enabling some students to complete high school diplomas through Excelsior Springs Technical High School. Superintendent Mark Bullimore has previously emphasized that the district will monitor developments closely and continue to work with Job Corps leadership.

At the federal level, the final decision on the future of the program rests with Congress, which will evaluate the President’s FY 2026 budget proposal in the coming months. Local leaders and community advocates are encouraging residents to contact their federally elected officials to express support for preserving or reimagining youth workforce development efforts.

Key Contacts:

• Senator Josh Hawley – www.hawley.senate.gov/contact – (202) 224-6154

• Senator Eric Schmitt – www.schmitt.senate.gov/contact – (202) 224-5721

• Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6) – graves.house.gov – (202) 225-7041

As Excelsior Springs prepares for the transition, many are reflecting on what the Job Corps has meant—not just as a workforce program, but as a community partner and a launching pad for those who sought a better future.