Rep. Nick Langworthy has concerns about the Job Corps but is still analyzing the government-funded program to see if it should be continued.

In a statement issued by one of his aides to The Post-Journal and OBSERVER Langworthy said, “I’m a strong believer in creating pathways to good-paying jobs that don’t require a traditional four-year degree, and the mission of Job Corps is commendable, however, I have serious concerns about the program’s current performance. The national cost per student now exceeds $80,000, yet Department of Labor statistics reveal alarmingly low graduation and certification rates – figures that stand in stark contrast to what we’ve been told by program staff. While the recent pause in funding is under judicial review and only a small number of local residents are enrolled at the Cassadaga site, I will continue actively digging into the data and seeking answers from Job Corps leadership about these troubling discrepancies. Any program funded with taxpayer money must meet the highest levels of scrutiny and accountability.”

The Department of Labor had issued a pause on the program last month before a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that the government not terminate Job Corps contractors or stop work at Job Corps centers until a further ruling in the case.

The next hearing is set for June 17.

In a news conference earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal would completely eliminate funding for Job Corps centers, effectively killing the program.

Schumer has gone on record saying both he and Gillibrand support Job Corps.

Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate have voted on funding the program in the future.

The Cassadaga site is one of 99 non-federally operated Job Corps centers in the country. According to a news release announcing the pause of Job Corps operations, the department’s decision aligns with President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal and reflects the administration’s commitment to ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results for both students and taxpayers. According to the news release, the Job Corps program has faced significant financial challenges under its current operating structure. In 2024, the program operated at a $140 million deficit, requiring the Biden administration to implement a pause in center operations to complete the program year. The deficit is projected to reach $213 million in 2025.

In an email, a Department of Labor official said that the Cassadaga center has a graduation rate of 39.53%. “High schools with graduation rates below 67% are considered low performing under federal law. The cost per graduate at this center is: $123,654.22,” the official wrote.

Local employees called those statistics into question during a rally earlier this week. Jake Brock, the president of Job Corps’ Union called “Guardians of the Hill,” said he doesn’t know if that national number is accurate, but he said that’s not the case locally.

“In Cassadaga, we have almost a 90% completion rate and a 90% placement rate with students after they finish our program,” he said in an interview.