Judge temporarily halts Job Corps closures, reinstating staff and offering hope to Maui’s center

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from shutting down more than 100 Job Corps centers nationwide — including the Maui Job Corps Center — offering a moment of relief for staff and students who just days ago were bracing for sudden closures.

US District Judge Andrew Carter of the Southern District of New York granted the temporary restraining order on Wednesday in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Job Corps Association and other groups representing contractors that operate the centers. The court order, first reported by Reuters, prohibits the US Department of Labor from terminating Job Corps contracts or halting operations until a further court hearing on June 17.

The Department of Labor had quietly announced plans last week to dismantle the Job Corps program, prompting immediate layoffs across the country. At the Maui center, several staff members — including physicians, mental health consultants and substance abuse counselors — were dismissed Monday in preparation for the closure.

But on Wednesday afternoon, during a farewell lunch off-campus, that grim mood shifted.

“We were saying goodbye, and then we got the call,” said Dr. David Wittenberg, a Maui center mental health consultant who had been laid off earlier in the week. “Everyone on staff was calling us — we thought there was an emergency going on at Job Corps, but it was to let us know of this TRO.”

The temporary restraining order (TRO) means immediate layoffs have been paused, and staff like Wittenberg may return to their posts — at least for now.

“There are no staff layoffs right now,” he said. “We’re being told that everyone is coming back.”

The order also paused student travel for now — a move aimed at reuniting those who were already sent home in anticipation of closures. “Some students have already left,” Wittenberg said. “We’re going to take every measure we can to bring them back.”

Students from the Federated States of Micronesia, who require longer travel arrangements, remained on Maui as of Wednesday, according to Wittenberg.

The lawsuit argues that the Department of Labor is violating both federal procurement law and its own regulations by attempting to dismantle Job Corps without Congressional authorization.

“Federal courts have recently stepped in to protect against similar efforts to extinguish Congressionally mandated programs,” said the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs in the case are the National Job Corps Association, several Job Corps contractors, the Transportation Communications Union/IAM and one Job Corps student.

The complaint also contends that the sudden closure plan would irreparably harm students who rely on the centers for education, job training and healthcare.

Though the legal outcome remains uncertain, Wittenberg said the last few days have been an emotion “yo-yo” for a staff and students still reeling from the initial shock.

“There’s a lot of tears right now, a lot of emotion from the staff that I was with at the luncheon,” Wittenberg said. “I’m happy for the staff, happy for the students — and happy for Maui County and the nation.”

A court hearing to determine whether a preliminary injunction will be issued is scheduled for June 17.