While US District Judge Andrew Carter on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from closing Job Corps, a residential program for low-income youth ages 16 to 24, its continued operation is still not certain.

The injunction bolstered a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Carter earlier this month, when he directed DOL to cease removing Job Corps students from housing, terminating jobs or otherwise suspending the nationwide program without congressional approval.

In the article written by Cathy Bussewitz in the Associated Press, Judge Carter said in his ruling: “Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program like the Job Corps must exist, and set aside funding for that program, the DOL is not free to do as it pleases; it is required to enforce the law as intended by Congress.” – (https://www.burlingtontoday.com/national-business/federal-judge-orders-us-labor-department-to-keep-job-corps-running-during-lawsuit-10864759)

So, the case continuous, despite the injunction,  until a lawsuit against the move is resolved.

That’s the reason why there is no certainty yet up to when Job Corps will continue to operate. We don’t know when the resolution will come…, it may come tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next years…

Well, with the decision, at least Job Corps is theoretically assured of a one-year operation until June next year because Congress has already approved its budget for fiscal year 2025 – 2026. Job Corps’ fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Currently, Job Corps is funded through June 30, 2026. This aligns with the US Department of Labor’s announcement of a phased pause in operations at Job Corps centers, coinciding with the President’s proposed FY2026 budget. – (AI Overview)

The uncertain situation hangs on like a Sword of Damocles for Job Corps, now that it is operating normally after Judge Carter made his ruling lately but is making both staff and students having thoughts of the future. Some students went home and refused to come back even after their counselors called them to report back to Job Corps. Well, a few responded positively and came back. As to the staff, most of them resigned and are now looking for jobs or have already found jobs because of the uncertainty. Of course, others, are staying and are looking forward for a permanent resolution of the case and are playing the “wait and see” game, a delicate and precarious situation.

This situation was compounded by the latest decision of the Supreme Court re President Donald Trump vs CASA, the legal challenge to the Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship.

In their ruling, it limited the decision of the district judges by not issuing a national injunction but limit their decision with the parties in their local district, not on a national scale. Trump v. CASA, Inc., a recent Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of nationwide injunctions. In this case, the Supreme Court restricted the ability of lower federal courts to issue injunctions that apply nationwide. The Supreme Court ruled that federal courts may not issue universal or nationwide injunctions unless they are essential to provide complete relief to the specific plaintiffs involved in the case. (AI Overview)  

While the decision did not directly affect Judge Carter’s decision, a judge in the district of Manhattan, it has its potential impact. It may affect the continued operation of Job Corps with some conditions or other limiting factors. There’s no concrete effect yet but may have really potential impact in implementing the ruling of Judge Carter as the DOLE will somehow come up with negotiated actions for implementation, a move we don’t know yet.

Or, another action that may happen that will somehow affect Job Corps is, the DOLE/President Trump may use the Supreme Court decision to elevate the Job Corps case to a higher court which will again take more time and might jeopardize the continuous operation of Job Corps in the interim, while the appeal is going on. We know for a fact that most of the cases filed by Trump or elevated by Trump in the Supreme Court, he won them, a situation Job Corps is afraid of. With this, it will add up to the situation of Job Corps’ waiting in limbo, with no definite sight for the future/ahead.

All these are indications of Job Corps’ uncertain future even if they are ordered to resume normal operations until the case is finally resolved.

Yes, normal operations are going on. Students and staff are doing their roles just like what they were doing before the DOLE has ordered Job Corps to be closed based on the Executive Order of President Trump

Well, the question is: “Up to when?” We do not know! Job Corps is in limbo. Is there any permanent solution coming soon that will allay the fears of staff and students? Let’s play the game “wait and see” for the meantime!