Tongue Point Job Corps student sues Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer over closure

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the U. S. Department of Labor and Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer over the closure of 99 Job Corps sites across the country. The plaintiffs, including Maddex Davis-Newman, contend that the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 requires advance notice and public comment prior to any closures. Davis-Newman enrolled at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center in June 2024, pursuing a carpentry career and fearing that the suspension of the program will leave him without job certifications and transitional services.

The lawsuit, filed in a D. C. federal court, is backed by attorneys from Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Southern Poverty Law Center. KATU NEWS has sought a comment from the Department of Labor regarding the lawsuit. The move to close the Job Corps sites could disrupt the lives of many students who rely on these programs for training and housing.

Chavez-DeRemer, previously the mayor of Happy Valley, was elected to Oregon's 5th Congressional District in 2022 but lost her seat in 2024. The outcome of this lawsuit may have significant implications for federal labor policies and educational programs.