🗞️ Labor Secretary Concludes Four-State Tour Promoting Apprenticeships and Skilled Trades

U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer concluded a four-state tour through the Midwest in mid-January 2026, visiting North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska as part of her ongoing "America at Work" listening tour. The tour, which began in April 2025, aims to visit all 50 states during her first year in office.

During the tour, Chavez-DeRemer visited an AI data center construction site in Fargo with North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, toured three Sanford Health facilities in Sioux Falls, met with apprentices at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, and visited the Union Pacific Railroad Training Center in Omaha. The visits emphasized workforce development programs, apprenticeships, and career pathways that don't require traditional four-year college degrees.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer stated that at her direction, the department has added over 300,000 new apprentices and registered 2,512 new apprenticeship programs, working toward President Trump's executive order goal of reaching 1 million active apprentices. The executive order, signed in April 2025, directed the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education to develop a plan to expand registered apprenticeship programs.

The tour comes amid broader scrutiny of the secretary's travel, with an internal Department of Labor complaint filed with the Office of Inspector General alleging travel fraud and other misconduct. The secretary's office has stated she remains focused on the department's mission, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said President Trump "stands by the secretary."

Recent DOL initiatives include announcing $145 million in funding for expanding registered apprenticeship programs and launching a $35.8 million American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund. These programs operate on a pay-for-performance model, representing the largest investment in apprenticeships in recent years.

Key Points

• Four-state tour: Secretary visited North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska focusing on AI infrastructure, healthcare innovation, vocational training, and railroad workforce development
• Apprenticeship goals: Secretary stated department has added 300,000+ new apprentices and 2,512 new programs toward 1 million apprentice goal
• Funding initiatives: DOL announced $145 million for registered apprenticeship expansion and $35.8 million manufacturing apprenticeship fund
• Emphasis on alternatives: Tour highlighted skilled trades and vocational pathways as alternatives to traditional four-year college degrees
• Industries targeted: Focus areas include construction, AI-related occupations, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation sectors
• Active apprentices: Approximately 680,000 active apprentices nationwide as of fiscal year 2024, representing a 114% increase since 2014
• Inspector General investigation: Tour continues while DOL Office of Inspector General reviews complaint alleging misconduct; White House has expressed support for secretary

Primary Source Author: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor

Primary Source: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor

Primary Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20260116

Supplemental Links

• White House Declares Goal to Reach 1M New Apprentices Per Year - Higher Ed Dive
• U.S. Labor Secretary Visits Union Pacific to Promote Job Creation - MarketScreener
• DOL Launches Funding Initiatives to Grow Apprenticeship Programs - Fresno Chamber of Commerce
• A Big Bet on Apprenticeships in a Frozen Labor Market - RealClearEducation
• New Statistics on Registered Apprenticeships - Community College Daily
• Secretary Visits Union Pacific, Iowa Western - KETV
• Probe Isn't Grounding Chavez-DeRemer in Washington - Bloomberg Law
• U.S. Labor Secretary Visits Fargo on 'America at Work' Tour - WDAY Radio
• President Trump Signs Executive Order on Apprenticeship - SWACCA
• Reaching One Million Active Apprentices - Social Finance