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Trump Administration Announces $86 Million Plan to ‘Make America Skilled Again’

The Department of Labor announced $86 million in workforce training grants to support U.S. manufacturing, shipbuilding, AI, and other high-demand industries.

US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer makes remarks and introduces Vice President JD Vance at Hatch Stamping on September 17, 2025 in Howell, Michigan.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Department of Labor announced more than $86 million in grants for employers to provide training in high-demand and emerging industries.

President Trump has directed the Labor Department to Make America Skilled Again by providing states with the resources they need to expand on-the-job training opportunities,” Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement.

The department awarded grants to 14 states to accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and address critical workforce needs, according to a news release shared with The Daily Signal. More than $20 million will support the revitalization of industries, including domestic shipbuilding, welding, marine electrical, and manufacturing.

This is in line with Trump’s executive orders “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future” and “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.”

“By investing more than $86 million in workforce development initiatives across the country, we are carrying out our responsibility to prepare American workers to fill the mortgage-paying jobs being created by this Administration’s efforts to revitalize American manufacturing, shipbuilding, energy production, and other critical industries,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “This is how we keep America working and winning.”

Grant applicants proposed a model to award funds to employers for training and retaining newly hired and incumbent workers in industries critical to American competitiveness.

Among the grants awarded:

The Arizona Department of Economic Security received $5 million to support advanced manufacturing; the Connecticut Department of Labor received $8 million to support advanced manufacturing, construction, distribution, logistics, and transportation, as well as health care, information technology, and shipbuilding; and the Iowa Workforce Development received $4.7 million to support advanced manufacturing.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission won $7 million to support advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence-enabling occupations supporting data centers and digital infrastructure, and construction and industrial trades; and the Maine Department of Labor was awarded $8 million to support advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and shipbuilding.

Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell is the White House Correspondent for "The Daily Signal."

Reprinted with Permission from Daily Signal - By Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.

Topics Economy
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