In a recent report, the U.S. Department of Labor, in collaboration with the President Donald J. Trump administration, proposed substantial budget cuts to the Job Corps program. The Job Corps Transparency Report (2025) suggests that the program “fails to give young people the start they need in their careers.”

As a proud Job Corps alumnus, I respectfully and professionally disagree.

That claim reflects a limited perspective—one that fails to capture the lifelong experiences of those who have benefited from this program. Job Corps has empowered countless individuals to overcome barriers, gain professional training, and step confidently into the workforce. Cutting this program doesn’t just reduce spending—it removes opportunities for future generations to grow, thrive, and succeed.

This petition was created by me as a fellow alumnus who knows firsthand the true power of the Job Corps program. I am now creating this petition to advocate not only for its survival but also for the truth of its impact to be recognized. The stories—such as my own—are proof that Job Corps should not be diminished and that it does have true impact.

If you’re unsure of the program’s value, let me introduce you to one of those stories—mine!

Kurtis Ashton, A.S., CISSP, CSAE, SecurityX
Information Security Analyst II, National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) member, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) alumnus, Ivy Tech Community College alumnus, Purdue Global student, and Job Corps alumnus

In 2009, I enrolled at the Whitney M. Young Job Corps Center in Simpsonville, Kentucky, hoping for a better path forward. At the time, I was still struggling with frequent tonic-clonic seizures due to my lifelong battle with epilepsy. My medical condition often made it difficult to complete basic tasks—let alone pursue a career.

Despite these challenges, I pushed forward—first in the Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting trade, and later with dreams of completing one of the two prerequisites for me to enter the Advanced training for Information Technology sector. Unlike most programs before this, Job Corps gave me structure, support, and the purpose I needed to push myself forward.

However, before I could fully reach the advanced training program, the standards of the Department of Labor forced me to only graduate after completing my program. Despite this endeavor, I left Job Corps with something I didn’t have before: ambition, direction, drive, and purpose.

In the next five years that followed, I underwent two life-threatening procedures to control my epilepsy, brain surgery and a Vagus Nerve Stimulator implant, each of which would aid in managing my epilepsy long-term. After recovery, I reignited my career goals—earning my driver’s license, my CompTIA A+ and Security+ certifications, and continued working towards a college degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance.

Then in 2021, I had the privilege of returning to Job Corps—this time not as a student, but as a System Administrator at the Cincinnati Job Corps Center. It was a full-circle moment that allowed me to continue what I had once started, now contributing as a dedicated faculty member. In this role, I took great pride in mentoring students, encouraging them to pursue their own career goals, and passing on the very same foundational principles that had once guided me.

Today, I continue advancing my career as a certified Information Security Analyst II, protecting millions of accounts and transactions at General Electric Credit Union in Cincinnati, OH! None of which would have been possible without the training, support, and life-changing opportunities provided by the Job Corps program, my colleges, and even my employers, each laying the groundwork for everything that came next.

Job Corps doesn’t just teach job skills—it builds futures, restores confidence, and opens doors that many of us thought were permanently closed. For me, and for the many others signing this petition, the Job Corps program was the beginning of our success. Because of this, individuals such as myself are here to stand up against the recession that the United States government seeks to impose on Job Corps funding. 

If you believe in second chances and the importance of accessible career training for all, this is our time to prove to the Department of Labor, the Trump Administration, and so many others that Job Corps remains a pillar of opportunity in this country! Let's stand up and speak before it's too late!

References

Thompson, M. (2025, May 19). Trump budget proposes elimination of Job Corps. KXLF. https://www.kxlf.com/news/local-news/trump-budget-proposes-elimination-of-job-corps 

U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, April 25). US Department of Labor releases new Job Corps Transparency Report. https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20250425