Most deep cuts averted in FY 2011 budget.

Workforce Fares Better in Final 2011 Budget Thanks to Nationwide Advocacy

Late Monday night, details were released on the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 continuing resolution (CR) negotiated by the White House and Congressional leaders late last week. The bill, which will fund the federal government through September 30, includes $38.5 billion in cuts below current funding levels—$78.5 billion below levels requested in the President’s FY 2011 budget proposal—and includes $13 billion in cuts to programs under the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. 

Under HR 1, the House-passed CR, workforce programs under the Department of Labor (DOL) were originally targeted for $3.8 billion in cuts, including the elimination of all funding for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs in Program Year (PY) 2011. Cuts under the new CR are far less severe, with job training programs at DOL facing just under $1 billion in cuts, including:

• WIA funding is cut by $307 million, but $125 million for a new “Workforce Innovation Fund” is included in the bill, resulting in a net reduction of $182 million in WIA formula funding;
• $125 million in FY 2010 funding for the Career Pathways Innovation Fund is rescinded (the FY 2011 funding was eliminated as part of an earlier short-term CR);
• The Green Jobs Innovation Fund is eliminated ($40 million);
• Funding for YouthBuild is cut from $102.5 million to $80 million; and
• Funding reserved in FY 2010 for Transitional Jobs is eliminated ($45 million) in FY 2011.

Click here to download a detailed table of all workforce funding cuts.

Though significant, these cuts to workforce programs could have been much worse. It is thanks to your hard work and advocacy over the past few months that these cuts were not deeper. Thank you for standing up and telling the White House and Congress that cuts to job training and education programs are unacceptable. Thank you for educating policymakers about the vital work that you do and the people you serve. Thank you for demonstrating how funding cuts would impact your community’s job creation efforts and economic recovery.

As part of those efforts, last month thousands took part in a national Workforce Day of Action, participating in meetings with Members of Congress, press conferences, site visit and rallies in over 30 states to voice united opposition to funding cuts to job training and education programs. Business leaders and other stakeholders in Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Kentucky added their voice to the fight, penning op-ed columns to address the impact of slashing workforce funding. We must continue to build on this momentum.

The battle over the FY 2011 budget has (almost) been won, but the war is far from over. The House and Senate are expected to vote this week on the final FY 2011funding bill and will quickly move on to debating next year’s budget and the raising the nation’s debt ceiling. In the months ahead it will be more important than ever that policymakers hear from you about the critical role of workforce programs in helping U.S. workers, businesses, and communities rebuild the nation’s economy.  Look for additional information from us later this week as the FY 2012 budget proposal advances in the House, along with suggestions for how you can continue to hold your Members of Congress accountable for the decisions they make about federal education and training programs. 

Thank you for joining us in this fight. Together, we will continue to stand up for America’s workers and industries.