Pallone Blasts Trump for Pulling the Ladder Up on New Jersey’s Youth with Job Corps Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to shut down Job Corps centers, including one in Edison, NJ:

“Donald Trump ran on being a job creator, but all he’s done is destroy opportunity. Now he’s shutting down Job Corps centers in New Jersey, gutting a program that helps young people train for real careers and build better lives.

"In Edison alone, Job Corps has trained and advanced the lives and careers of thousands of students with over 300 currently enrolled. 

“Job Corps has served as a lifeline – especially for low-income students – offering training in high-demand fields and a path to stability. This move doesn’t just cut a program; it pulls the ladder up behind the next generation.

“Trump’s economic legacy is becoming crystal clear: layoffs, trade chaos, rising prices, and now, a full-on attack on workforce development. I won’t sit back while he undermines our communities. I’ll keep fighting to protect the investments that actually help people get ahead.”

Ashton Stripling, the Edison Job Corps Center Director, added: 

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm we have received official notice that the Job Corps program received an official letter of termination of convenience. This is not just a program—this is a lifeline. As a former Job Corps student who rose through the ranks to become Director of the Edison campus, I can personally attest to the power of this program to transform lives.

“For so many of our students, this place is more than just a school—it’s their home, their source of food, clothing, stability, and the education they need to build a future. With this closure, hundreds of young people are at risk of being displaced, and many will return to environments lacking the very support systems they came here to escape.”