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The Tulsa Job Corps Center, which specializes in training young adults in fields like cosmetology, construction, and culinary arts, is facing closure due to federal funding cuts. This nationwide decision has sparked concerns among local community leaders and organizations.

Lisa New, a figure worried about the long-term impacts on Guthrie, Oklahoma, expressed significant unease when the U.S. Department of Labor announced a "phased pause in operations" for Job Corps Centers on May 29. She fears the closure will not only affect her animal rescue organization, Helping Community Paws and Claws, but also other nonprofits that rely on Job Corps volunteers. “These are respectful, hardworking young adults trying to better their lives while contributing to the community,” New said, emphasizing the crisis looming over Guthrie.

Job Corps is a federally funded program that helps low-income young adults from ages 16 to 24 receive vital academic education and vocational training. The immediate consequence of the funding decision has led to the Department of Labor extending the deadline for students to leave the campuses from June 3 to June 13, according to Adam Martin, workforce specialist at the Tulsa Job Corps Center.

Of the 99 defunded Job Corps Centers across the United States, three are located in Oklahoma, including Tulsa, Guthrie, and Tahlequah. These centers are crucial for the education and job training of many young people, some of whom lack family support. “We have students here that don’t have families,” Martin noted. “A lot came here to better their future and life chances.”

The sudden closure is detrimental particularly to those who were on the verge of graduating. The Tulsa center alone accommodated 153 students, many of whom were set to earn diplomas in the coming month. Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, underscored the impact on the 150 students residing at the Tahlequah campus, involved in programs aiming for a high school diploma or GED.

The Department of Labor cited a budgetary shortfall as the reason for the action. The Job Corps faced a $140 million deficit in 2024, with expectations for it to grow to $213 million in 2025. Additionally, an internal review revealed serious incident reports, including acts of violence and drug use, despite stringent background checks and drug testing.

Despite these issues, Adam Martin and Lisa New highlight the successes and transformative stories of many students who take their education seriously at these centers. The Tulsa Job Corps Center achieved the No. 21 ranking out of 99 centers based on their success rate, and roughly 40% of their students graduated.

As the June 30 funding deadline nears, Martin called for public support to appeal to federal representatives and senators. He stressed the importance and effectiveness of Job Corps programs, saying, "We are actually truly changing lives."