01-06-2025
Guthrie Job Corps closing its doors due to federal budget cuts
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR) — The Guthrie Job Corps is closing down with over 300 students enrolled.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a pause in contractor-operated job corps nationwide due to President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.
'Forty percent of the students here are homeless, unhoused, they don't have anywhere to go,' said Taran Richardson, Chief Justice of the Guthrie Job Corp Student Government Association.
Richardson said students were given only a few days to pack their belongings and leave campus.
'We had staff, team members trying to get their personal resources, take students and bring them to homeless shelters,' said Richardson.
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In the Guthrie Job Corps, students have opportunities to learn different trade skills, get their driver's license and high school credits with job security after finishing.
'There are so many vulnerable kids out there right now and it's just going to get worse with all the funding cuts to these essential programs,' said Holly Jameson-Birden.
Jameson-Birden's son has been enrolled at the Guthrie Job Corps for over nine months. She says the program has been life changing for her family.
'He was a child in crisis, making terrible choices, not on track to be a high school graduate, and there's a sense of hope now and a sense of independence and success,' Jameson-Birden said.
With an uncertain future ahead, Jameson-Birden is calling on local leaders for help.
'I just really urge our lawmakers to know that this isn't about budget or policy shift. These are humans and these are humans that don't have another place to go and we need to look at the big picture down the road, and provide the resources that come with job corps and continue funding it,' she said.
Jameson-Birden said employees at the Guthrie Job Corp don't know what's next and may be at risk of losing their jobs due to layoffs.
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