Urge Congress to Invest in the Economic Futures of America’s Workers and Learners

Jobs for the Future is calling on on our partners throughout the learn and work ecosystem—employers, education and workforce development providers, civic and community leaders, and investors and entrepreneurs—to join us in encouraging Congress to preserve and increase funding for education and workforce develoment. JFF is leading an ambitous national policy campaign, called No Dead Ends, to expand access to high-quality postsecondary education and skills training, career navigation and transitional assistance, work-based learning, skills-driven approaches, and career pathways; and, strong federal investments is vital to modernizing these programs and driving economic success for people, businesses, and communities. 

JFF is conveying our federal funding priorities to the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees and to the Trump administration. (To read our letter from 2025, go to: https://www.jff.org/jff-shares-budget-recommendations-with-white-house/.) We are emphasizing the need for sufficient funding levels for:  

• WIOA Title I formula funds for adults, dislocated workers, and youth  
• Adult education and literacy grants  
• Career and technical education and dual enrollment through Perkins V  
• Pell Grant funding, including Pell Grants for short-term training  
• Registered Apprenticeship and expansion of apprenticeship to new industries  
• The Reentry Employment Opportunities grant program for people with criminal records  
• The Economic Development Administration and regional economic development workforce programs  
• Workforce data systems and Education, Innovation and Research (EIR) grants supporting innovation  

Many of these vital, federally funded education and workforce programs are under threat.  

After taking office in 2025, the Trump administration recommended significant funding cuts to the nation’s public education and workforce systems in its proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year. (See JFF's fact sheet at: https://www.jff.org/fact-sheet-trump-administrations-fy26-budget-request/.) We anticipate President Trump will make his FY27 budget request soon. 

It is up to Congress to decide on how to fund the federal government.  

Now is the time to contact your representatives in Congress to preserve and increase federal investments in education and workforce development.

You can use the form at right to send a message to members of Congress.  

Please note: JFF reserves the right to not transmit letters.