Trump administration releases workforce strategy report
The Departments of Labor, Commerce and Education jointly released a workforce strategy report, “America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for a Golden Age,” as directed by an Executive Order signed by President Trump in April. The report provides a “comprehensive plan to address the workforce needs of American companies, integrate existing workforce development systems to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, provide accountability for workforce training programs, upskill American workers and develop alternatives to 4-year college degrees.” Overall, it is designed to improve the alignment of federal workforce development programs with current labor market demands. Key components include expanding the use of Registered Apprenticeships and promoting credentialing programs as a method to help employers recruit and retain skilled employees. The report is expected to guide the administration as it implements existing workforce programs and works with Congress in this policy arena.
House committee releases career and technical education funding bill
On Sept. 2, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies passed its fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill that proposes a total allocation of $184.5 billion, which is $13.7 billion (7%) below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level. Despite these cuts and a tough congressional budget environment, the bill provides an increase of $25 million for Perkins State Grants, which fund career and technical education programs at the state and local levels. This legislation now goes to the full Appropriations Committee and House floor for further consideration.
On July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved funding for Perkins CTE State Grants with level funding over the previous year. Although this program is consistently underfunded compared with federal support for four-year universities, NRCA and allied associations were successful in increasing funding for the program by more than $300 million dollars since 2018. NRCA recently joined with industry allies to promote increased funding for Perkins CTE grants, and you can join us by sending a grassroots Action Alert asking your member of Congress to support increased funding for this vital program. Current federal government funding expires Sept. 30.
U.S. Court of Appeals rules against president’s tariff authority under International Emergency Economic Powers Act
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled President Trump could not use his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for a large swath of reciprocal tariffs that were first announced April 2, along with earlier tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and Canada. The court's ruling will not take effect until October, and the administration announced it will appeal to the Supreme Court. Experts say the president has alternative legal authority to impose tariffs, such as the Trade Act of 1974, but they would move much more slowly than under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This law would restrict tariffs to 15% and just 150 days on countries with which the U.S. runs trade deficits.
This ruling does not affect all the president’s tariffs, such as those on foreign steel, aluminum and autos that were imposed under a different authority after Commerce Department investigations concluded those imports were threats to U.S. national security.
Small Business Administration updates small-business standards
The Small Business Administration issued a proposed rule that will revise monetary size standards used to classify small businesses in various industries for purposes of government contracting and other programs. The proposed revisions are the result of the SBA’s periodic review of size standards to ensure they reflect current industry and market conditions. The proposal increases the size standards in some industry sectors but leaves many others unchanged, including maintaining the standard for roofing contractors to qualify as small businesses at $19 million or less in annual revenues. Public comments regarding the proposal are being accepted and are due Oct. 21. The agency is expected to undertake further revision of the size standards according to the number of employees in a company, which will be the subject of a future rulemaking.
