The Trump Administration Misunderstands the Federal Role in Local Workforce Development

The following article by Angela Hanks was posted  on the Center for America Progress website April 26, 2017:

Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 22, 2017. AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

During his March 22 Senate confirmation hearing, U.S. Secretary of Labor nominee Alexander Acosta repeatedly stressed that local communities must be in the driver’s seat when developing job training programs.

“I think those ideas can’t come from Washington. I think what Washington needs to do is go to them, and ask them what ideas do they see in their local area, and then work with them and [their] local governments to address that,” said Acosta.

Likewise, during a recent visit to Valencia College in Florida, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos heaped praise on the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, which provides training aligned with local manufacturers’ industry standards, stating “We need to think differently about how we help students pursue their education in the way that’s going to work for them.” Continue reading “The Trump Administration Misunderstands the Federal Role in Local Workforce Development”