WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor announced a sweeping series of workforce and safety initiatives last week, including more than $86 million in grants to strengthen state training programs for high-demand industries and $250,000 to advance mine safety education. The agency also issued new legal guidance on wage and hour rules to clarify compliance for employers.
The funding, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, underscores the Trump administration’s goal to “Make America Skilled Again” by expanding on-the-job training and revitalizing domestic industries from shipbuilding to energy production.
“By investing more than $86 million in workforce development initiatives across the country, we are preparing American workers to fill the mortgage-paying jobs being created by this Administration’s efforts to rebuild American manufacturing, shipbuilding, and energy,” Chavez-DeRemer said.
The Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants were awarded to 14 states, including Maine, Michigan, and Texas, to help employers train and retain workers in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, defense, and clean energy sectors. More than $20 million of the total funding is targeted at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry — with programs to train welders, marine electricians, and industrial tradesmen.
In separate action, the department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration awarded $250,000 in Brookwood-Sago grants to three universities — Arizona, Penn State, and the South Dakota School of Mines — to develop safety programs that prevent workplace accidents and improve emergency preparedness in mining communities. The grants honor miners who lost their lives in the Brookwood and Sago mine disasters in 2001 and 2006.
The Department also released four new opinion letters clarifying how federal labor standards apply to issues such as emergency pay, tip pooling, and family leave. The guidance aims to provide clearer rules for businesses and workers navigating the Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are making government more efficient by actively responding to the needs of businesses and workers,” said Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.
Officials said the grants and guidance reflect a coordinated push to modernize labor standards and equip American workers for high-demand, technology-driven jobs while maintaining rigorous safety and fairness across workplaces nationwide.
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