Press Releases

Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta following up on the Committee’s ongoing oversight of the Job Corps program. The letter noted concerns about the Job Corps program’s failing safety record, and urged the Secretary to continue advancing reforms that will keep students safe.

“Active congressional oversight is essential to making improvements in underperforming federal programs, and I know you share my commitment to ensuring improved experiences and outcomes for Job Corps program participants. I am pleased the IG and GAO have noted the Department’s recent efforts to address these long-standing problems and I am encouraged by your commitment to fix this problem . . .The Committee requests continued, regular briefings between the Department and Committee staff regarding your work to address these concerns. The Committee looks forward to continuing to work together to make reforms to this program and ensure the progress initiated under your leadership continues.”

Background: In August 2017, Chairwoman Foxx wrote a letter to Secretary Acosta regarding student safety in the Job Corps program. Again in September 2017, the Committee requested information from all Job Corps centers about the number of serious safety incidents that had occurred at each site since 2015. Conducting oversight is one of the Committee’s most important responsibilities, and the Committee will continue to hold the Department of Labor accountable as it works to make improvements to the Job Corps program.

To read Chairwoman Foxx’s letter to Secretary Acosta, click here.

To learn more about the Committee’s work to hold the Job Corps program accountable, click here.

# # #