1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposes eliminating all funding for Job Corps—a devastating move that would shut down the nation’s most effective career training program for underserved youth. CCC employees have already received notice their centers may be shut down within the next few weeks - even before Congress has approved any budgetary changes. Defunding Job Corps will eliminate all U.S. Forest Service Civilian Conservation Centers, removing a pipeline of well-trained candidates for battling wildfires and stewarding our public lands. As fire seasons have become increasingly long and dangerous, developing into year-long disasters, it is imperative that the firefighting workforce has enough personnel to protect our communities, property, and public lands from being razed by wildfires. The strenuous nature of the work that wildland firefighters undertake, combined with low pay and tough working conditions, has led to an understaffed and under resourced workforce. Further, the President’s initiatives to downsize the federal workforce have caused many wildland firefighters to leave the USFS, worsening recruitment and retention efforts. The CCCs are a critical feeder program of federal wildland firefighters – eliminating them at this time will have dangerous consequences for the workforce and the communities they serve. These centers not only help support underserved youth and young adults with invaluable job training, but they also provide essential capacity for the USFS to fulfill its mission and provide economic opportunities in rural areas. For nearly 60 years, the CCCs have helped conserve, develop, and manage public natural resources and recreation areas, and have responded to natural disasters, including wildfires and hurricanes. There is no disadvantage to investing in the CCC program. The CCCs educate and train young people, transforming them into fully employed taxpayers, and the students and graduates provide much needed services back to the government during their tenure. Most importantly, it clarifies a career path for students upon graduation and acceptance into full employment at USDA and DOI, providing them with solid careers for them to excel in the future. If you have a CCC in your state or district, please ensure the center(s) in your state or district are still operating. Job Corps and the CCCs benefit all Americans - please fully fund these critical programs in FY26.