Workforce News 2026Apr9

Chairman Walberg Introduces WIOA Reauthorization Proposal

On April 6, Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) of the House Education and Workforce Committee, introduced A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, which would extend and update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Act while also making a significant structural change to federal oversight of adult education. Specifically, the legislation would transfer all functions of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, including related staff, authorizations, and appropriations. The transfer would take effect one year after enactment. Chairman Walberg has framed the proposal as a modernization effort aimed at better aligning adult education with workforce training, apprenticeships, and employer-led programs. The bill also places greater emphasis on digital literacy, updates performance and accountability measures across workforce programs, and clarifies that workers displaced by automation are eligible for certain dislocated worker grants. It is important to note that the bill was introduced without Democratic support. Negotiations over WIOA reauthorization stalled earlier this year over the proposed transfer of adult education from Education to Labor, an issue on which Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D‑VA) drew a firm line. As a result, the legislation reflects Republican priorities only, complicating its path to passage.

President’s FY27 Budget Request: Labor, Education, and Others

Building on other reporting related to the President’s budget request, the following are some key elements of the Department of Labor and Department of Education portions of the request. Related to Labor, the budget proposes to consolidate a dozen workforce development programs into one funding stream - the Make America Skilled Again (MASA) grant program. The MASA program would seek to expand Registered Apprenticeships by providing grantees with a minimum 10 percent expenditure on Registered Apprenticeship activities. Additionally, the budget proposes to eliminate the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which provides part-time, paid community service positions and work-based training for unemployed, low-income individuals, age 55 or older ($395 million), as well as Job Corps ($1.6 billion). The budget also proposes cuts to worker safety agencies ($234 million), which would include the elimination of Susan Harwood Training Grants, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs ($101 million). The president's budget included similar proposals in FY26, which Congress rejected. Additionally, under the proposed budget, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) would be moved from the Employment and Training Administration to the Office of the Secretary. OFLC would assume responsibilities for specialized visa activities and immigration policy coordinating functions currently handled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, respectively. Related to Education, the budget proposes to transfer the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to the Department of Labor and to eliminate the Adult Education program altogether. The budget also proposes to cut $8.5 billion from K-12 programs and $2.7 billion from higher ed programs but would provide an additional $10.5 billion for Federal Pell Grants. Lastly, in keeping with this administration's efforts to combat fraud, the proposed budget would provide $30 million to support the newly established National Fraud Division in the Department of Justice.

White House addresses DEI among Federal Contractors

In an Executive Order dated March 26, President Trump addressed “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) practices by federal contractors. The order prohibits federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities,” which the Executive Order describes as unethical and inefficient. The Order defines “racially discriminatory DEI activities” as disparate treatment based on race or ethnicity in the recruitment, employment (e.g., hiring, promotions), contracting (e.g., vendor agreements), program participation, or allocation or deployment of an entity’s resources. In response to questions from our membership, LeadingAge has outlined the applicability of the new Executive Order; specifically, LeadingAge members who receive federal financial assistance through a federal housing assistance contract or similar arrangement are not considered federal contractors. An article on the EO can be found here.

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