Work Shift asked the National Association of Workforce Boards for its take on President Trump’s FY26 budget proposal, the so-called skinny budget. If enacted, the budget would combine all workforce programs and slash $1.64B in funding, bringing total federal support down to just under $3B.
The full statement from Brad Turner-Little, president & CEO of NAWB, is below.
“The proposed FY26 budget outline calls for a massive cut in funding for workforce development (a $1.64B reduction), largely as part of a poorly defined proposed consolidation of existing workforce development programs across the federal government.
We (the National Association of Workforce Boards) find the administration’s FY26 budget request extremely troubling and inconsistent with current workforce development needs across the country. Businesses continue to struggle to fill jobs, hindering productivity, growth and competitiveness. Job seekers not participating in the labor force face complex challenges and often need to reskill or upskill to enter the workforce and become taxpaying members of society. Workforce boards sit at the epicenter of these economic tensions in communities across the country and warrant investment not reductions to meet this moment in our economy.
The Trump administration has articulated goals of revitalizing American manufacturing, meeting the growing demand for skilled trades, and propelling workers into well-paying jobs. Such a revitalization requires an increased investment in the public workforce system. Make America Skilled Again is a clever slogan, but a reduction in funding will not accomplish the goal of upskilling more of the American workforce.
Investing in the public workforce system is arguably among the federal government’s most worthwhile and remunerative programs in terms of supporting families, businesses, and communities, while bolstering local economies by generating billions of dollars in wages. We, as a country, should be making every effort to move individuals into employment—and investment in the public workforce system does just that, to the tune of $15 in local wages generated for every $1 invested in the it, according to FutureWork Systems analysis.
The administration’s FY26 budget request goes the opposite direction, drastically reducing investment at time when we should be investing more to help businesses fill jobs, talent build skills and communities flourish.
NAWB will continue to urge Congress to make the necessary investment in workforce development as it develops its FY26 appropriations bills. I urge my colleagues in the workforce development sector and the business leaders who chair local workforce boards to join me in urging Congress to increase this vital investment.”