Why the “A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026” Falls Short—and Why Your Voice Matters Now

Posted on by Grace Moster
The House Education and Workforce Committee is preparing to take up the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 (ASWA 2026) as soon as next week. As drafted, this bill represents a significant step backward for the nation’s workforce development system at a time when workers, job seekers, and employers urgently need more support, not less.
At NAWB, we believe deeply in the power of locally driven workforce solutions. Workforce boards across the country are helping people adapt to rapid technological change, navigate economic disruption, and are helping local employers find skilled workers. But ASWA 2026, in its current form, undermines that mission in several critical ways.
ASWA 2026 Fails to Invest in the Workforce System
Federal funding for workforce development has steadily declined for two decades. Congress has never funded the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) at its authorized levels.
Yet instead of reversing this trend, ASWA would:
• Freeze funding levels for Adult and Youth programs for six years
• Cut Dislocated Worker funding by nearly 5%
This comes at a time when AI, automation, and advanced technologies—which Congress and the administration are supporting and investing in—are reshaping the labor market. Workers and employers need more support to stay competitive. This bill does not meet that moment.
A Rigid 50% Training Requirement Doesn’t Reflect Local Needs
Local workforce boards understand their communities. They know which industries are growing, which skills are in demand, and what barriers job seekers face.
ASWA 2026 would implement a one‑size‑fits‑all 50% training expenditure requirement for Adult and Dislocated Worker programs. While the bill allows a 10% set‑aside for supportive services or individualized career services, this new mandate is arbitrary and disconnected from real‑world needs.
This requirement would:
• Force boards to meet a metric rather than serve people holistically
• Limit funding for essential services like business engagement, labor market analysis, and sector partnerships
• Ignore barriers—such as childcare, transportation, or housing—that often determine whether someone can complete training at all
If training is needed, shouldn’t we prioritize the successful completion of that training? This often requires these wraparound services, including case management, to ensure the appropriate supports are in place.
Expanded Governor’s Reserve That Reduces Local Capacity
ASWA 2026 would allow governors to set aside an additional 10% of state allocations (on top of the existing 15%) for a new Critical Industry Skills Fund.
While supporting critical industries is important, this approach would further divert vital WIOA funding away from serving workers and employers. The U.S. Department of Labor has already distributed grants for this purpose. Duplicating that effort at the expense of local funding is misguided.
Single State Redesignation Authority Undermines Local Leadership
Under ASWA 2026, states with fewer than 5.1 million people (or fewer than six local workforce boards) could redesignate as Single State Areas. At least 26 states would qualify.
This would be a dramatic departure from WIOA’s design, which centers local business and civic leadership in workforce decision‑making. Consolidating authority at the state level risks weakening the responsiveness and innovation that local boards bring to their communities.
A Block Grant Pilot Threatens the Local Workforce Model
The bill would also expand the Make America Skilled Again (MASA) block grant concept from the Administration’s FY2027 budget request.
The pilot would:
• Allow up to 10 states to collapse multiple workforce funding streams into a single block grant
• Remove previous guardrails related to labor market participation and population
This shift would jeopardize the success of the locally driven workforce system and concentrate funding authority at the state level, moving away from the community‑based approach that has proven effective.
So, where do we go from here?
NAWB has been deeply engaged with lawmakers, committee staff, and partners across the workforce ecosystem to ensure that any reauthorization of WIOA strengthens—not weakens—the system that millions of workers and businesses rely on.
We have:
• Provided detailed feedback on ASWA provisions
• Shared data and stories from local boards nationwide
• Coordinated with national partners to amplify concerns
• Engaged directly with committee members and staff
• Advocated for increased funding and flexibility to meet local needs
We will continue this work, but your voice is essential.
Take Action: Contact House Education and Workforce Committee Members Today
The committee may take up ASWA 2026 as soon as next week. Now is the time to make sure lawmakers understand how this bill would affect your community.
Contact your lawmakers on the House Education and Workforce Committee [link to https://edworkforce.house.gov/committee/fullcommittee.htm] and share your concerns about ASWA 2026.
[Link to Committee Contact Page]
Tell them:
• Local workforce boards need flexibility—not rigid mandates
• Funding must reflect the scale of economic trends, new work requirements, and technological change
• Workforce development works best when decisions are made close to the community
• ASWA 2026, as drafted, does not meet the needs of workers, job seekers, or businesses
Your outreach can make a real difference in shaping the future of workforce development.
Contact us at NAWB (link to nawb@nawb.org) for assistance. We are here to help.

NAWB Joins NLC, USCM, NACO, USWA in Laying Out WIOA Reauthorization Recommendations

Posted on by Grace Moster

May 7, 2025— This week, NAWB was proud to co-author a letter laying out formal recommendations for congress as they consider reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The letter – signed by NAWB President & CEO Brad Turner–Little; National League of Cities CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony; US Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director, Tom Cochran; National Association of Counties CEO and Executive Director, Matthew Chase; and US Workforce Associations Director, Ryan Hundt – lays out a set of specific recommendations for how Congress can streamline, improve, and strengthen the public workforce system.

“Locally WIOA has been successful in leveraging funds for activities like apprenticeships, summer youth programs, adult and youth career exploration and piloting innovative opportunities for new businesses,” the letter states. “As the network that serves job seekers and small businesses and supports strong local economies, the one stop career system is a stable and critical partner to economic development and is recognized as one of the most impactful and remunerative investments Congress has made, and can continue to make, in the years ahead.”

Read the letter now.

President’s FY26 Budget Proposes Deep Cuts to Workforce Development Programs

Posted on by Grace Moster

President Trump’s initial FY26 budget, released today, proposed to dramatically reduce non-defense discretionary investments, where workforce development and other domestic program funding is derived, by $1.63 billion or 22.6% overall. The budget proposes to increase defense spending by 13% and further proposes a 65% percent increase in funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This proposal now goes to Capitol Hill to be considered by the Appropriations Committees.

This initial release from the Administration does not include significant details regarding program-level funding, which is expected to be provided at a later date. Nevertheless, the high-level information released today indicates that the President is proposing a $4.6 billion reduction in funding for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)—a 35% cut over currently enacted levels.

Throughout the budget request, a significant amount of program elimination or consolidation has been proposed. As part of these components of the budget, the Administration is proposing to create a new consolidated workforce grant program dubbed “Make America Skilled Again” (MASA) which would combine a number of existing workforce development programs into a single programmatic grant. The budget request indicates that the total amount for these grants would reduce current funding levels overall by $1.64 billion.

Current FY25 funding for workforce development programs under Title I of WIOA is currently $5.67 billion, meaning that MASA likely represents a roughly 29% reduction in the federal investment for a number of workforce development programs under this portion of the budget. The budget request provides the following information and related justification for MASA:

“Consistent with the Administration’s efforts to promote the full range of post-secondary education and training options, the Budget proposes to give States and localities the flexibility to spend workforce dollars to best support their workers and economies, instead of funneling taxpayer dollars to progressive non-profits finding work for illegal immigrants or focusing on DEI. Under the last administration, these grant programs funded things such as: certifying Minnesota employers that were ‘committed to advancing DEI in their workplace cultures and communities’; promoting the hiring of illegal aliens and migrants; sometimes providing them subsidized housing in addition to a job; and green jobs in California. States would now have more control and flexibility to coordinate with employers and would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship, a proven model that trains workers while they earn a paycheck and offers a valuable alternative to college.”

In addition, the budget request proposes to completely eliminate Job Corps, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, and Adult Education funding under Title II of WIOA.

A high-level overview of this initial budget request can be found here, while a slightly more detailed version of the request can be accessed here.

NAWB will continue to advocate for the highest possible funding levels and to try to learn more about the proposed consolidation. We encourage our members to contact Congress to urge them to prioritize funding for workforce development.

U.S. Department of Labor Cancels TEN 21-24 to Implement DEI Executive Order

Posted on by Support

February 28, 2025 — Last night, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued a notice cancelling the Department of Labor (DOL)/ETA Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 21-24, issued on January 22, to implement President Trump’s Executive Order (EO).

The EO, which was issued on January 20, called for the termination of all “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government.” Federal agencies were directed to terminate programs, positions, grants and contracts related to DEI. The TEN 21-24 was issued to formally implement the EO. It is unclear when or if new guidance will be issued, but NAWB will continue to monitor the situation and keep you posted on any developments.

We held listening sessions in late January for its members and provided the results of these sessions to DOL. NAWB members expressed concern and confusion about how their efforts to reach all potential workers – including those hardest to serve – could be affected by the order.

“We are glad to see DOL take swift action to reverse course, given the unintended consequences and widespread confusion caused by the initial executive order,” said Brad Turner-Little, president and CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards. “Our members – workforce boards from across the nation and its territories – look forward to working with the department on our shared goals of strengthening the economy by increasing labor force participation and filling the 7.6 million vacant jobs in America.”