WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer completed a four-state swing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska as she nears the end of her 50-state “America at Work” listening tour, meeting with construction workers, business leaders, local officials, healthcare workers, and apprentices as part of her promise to speak directly with the hardworking men and women who keep our nation running strong. “Whether it’s the students who are excited about getting their foot in the door through apprenticeship opportunities, or the business leaders who get to grow and expand their footprint thanks to President Trump’s pro-worker policies, hardworking Americans across the country are excited to have an Administration dedicated to putting them first,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “I’m going to continue these conversations so I can go back to the President and share stories from every industry about what’s working and what isn’t – and learn how we can best support the American Worker through it all.” North Dakota In Fargo, the Secretary joined Governor Kelly Armstrong and the team at Applied Digital Corp. for a tour of the Polaris Forge 2 construction site, an AI data center currently underway. Viewing the two upcoming facilities on the 900-acre campus, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer spoke with the construction workers and businessmen and women who shared her emphasis on connecting the next generation of workers with in-demand jobs, such as electricians and pipefitters, which are necessary for AI-driven projects. Following the tour, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Governor Armstrong engaged with local construction partners and community leaders. The Secretary reaffirmed her commitment to bringing everyone to the table – men and women from all backgrounds and industries – so businesses can grow and their employees can enjoy the Golden Age of prosperity. She reiterated that AI is here to stay, and the Department of Labor is working to advance AI literacy and proficiency for students and workers as they prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. South Dakota Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured three Sanford Health locations in Sioux Falls while engaging with their leadership to discuss innovations in virtual care, gastroenterology, and pediatric medicine. Sanford Health is the largest rural health system in the U.S., providing access to high-quality care in America’s heartland for over 2 million patients. Her visit began with a tour of the Sanford Virtual Care Center, where she saw firsthand how Sanford is preparing the next generation of clinicians for new care delivery models and paving the way for the innovative future of health care.  Expanding on that goal of equipping workers with the tools to navigate AI infrastructure in their unique fields, the medical team offered the Secretary hands-on experience with their AI algorithm for colon cancer screening while at the Sanford Center for Digestive Health. Concluding the visit, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured the Sanford Children’s Hospital and discussed the importance of employee retention with the facility’s leadership.  Iowa  Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs hosted the Secretary for a tour of their campus, where she heard directly from apprentices and their instructors how workforce development programs open doors for those who do not wish to pursue a four-year-degree. The tour included visits to Iowa Western’s welding and HVAC labs, where she met with students pursuing those trades.The Secretary reiterated her belief that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work and emphasized her focus on creating new and better pathways to the workforce that do not rely on a traditional college route. Nebraska In Ohama, the Secretary engaged with Union Pacific Railroad Co. workers, leadership, and Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena at its state-of-the-art Training Center and Harriman Dispatching Center where she witnessed the inventive and robust training required for developing the railroad’s skilled workforce, even operating simulated equipment with the assistance of future locomotive engineers currently under Union Pacific’s instruction.While at the sites, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer participated in the same unique, hands-on learning environment that future dispatchers and engineers enjoy. She also joined dispatchers, engineers, and other Union Pacific employees in a roundtable discussion to hear about their personal experiences. Many echoed her message on the importance of exposing students to vocational training early and allowing them to make mortgage-paying salaries without a college degree. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer shared with the staff and leadership that at her direction, the department has added over 300,000 new apprentices and registered 2,512 new apprenticeship programs, which puts President Trump’s goal of 1 million active apprentices well within reach. Throughout her “America at Work” tour, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has beaten the drum of ensuring America’s workforce remains competitive and prepared for the jobs of the future. She will continue to take her insights from the listening tour directly to the President as they work together to put the American Worker first.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $23 million in grant funding to support organizations working to help homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness by providing training and employment services. Administered by the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program seeks to reduce and prevent veterans’ homelessness by assisting them in overcoming obstacles and successfully reentering the workforce.  “The Department of Labor understands that access to a good-paying job is one of the strongest tools we have to reduce and prevent veteran homelessness,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “This $23 million investment will help veterans overcome barriers to employment and reenter the workforce with the dignity and opportunity they deserve.”HVRP grants will provide each recipient with up to $500,000 annually, for a total of $1.5 million over a three-year period. Award recipients will be chosen to deliver workplace skills training, support participation in Registered Apprenticeship programs or other types of on-the-job training, and supply employment placement assistance. Part of the broader Trump Administration effort to reduce homelessness among U.S. veterans, the initiative is a collaboration between the department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Homeless Programs Office. Eligible applicants include state and local workforce development boards, federally recognized Native American governments; state agencies; for-profit entities and non-profit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations; and public, state, and private institutions of higher education. To provide information about the grant program and assist prospective applicants, VETS is offering two webinars in February. Participants will be able to learn more about the funding opportunity and ask questions about the application process on the following dates: Register for the January 27, 2026, 2 p.m. EST HVRP webinarRegister for the February 25, 2026, 3 p.m. EST HVRP webinarApply for this funding opportunity by March 6, 2026. Learn more about VETS.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $23 million in grant funding to support organizations working to help homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness by providing training and employment services. Administered by the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program seeks to reduce and prevent veterans’ homelessness by assisting them in overcoming obstacles and successfully reentering the workforce.  “The Department of Labor understands that access to a good-paying job is one of the strongest tools we have to reduce and prevent veteran homelessness,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “This $23 million investment will help veterans overcome barriers to employment and reenter the workforce with the dignity and opportunity they deserve.”HVRP grants will provide each recipient with up to $500,000 annually, for a total of $1.5 million over a three-year period. Award recipients will be chosen to deliver workplace skills training, support participation in Registered Apprenticeship programs or other types of on-the-job training, and supply employment placement assistance. Part of the broader Trump Administration effort to reduce homelessness among U.S. veterans, the initiative is a collaboration between the department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Homeless Programs Office. Eligible applicants include state and local workforce development boards, federally recognized Native American governments; state agencies; for-profit entities and non-profit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations; and public, state, and private institutions of higher education. To provide information about the grant program and assist prospective applicants, VETS is offering two webinars in February. Participants will be able to learn more about the funding opportunity and ask questions about the application process on the following dates: Register for the January 27, 2026, 2 p.m. EST HVRP webinarRegister for the February 25, 2026, 3 p.m. EST HVRP webinarApply for this funding opportunity by March 6, 2026. Learn more about VETS.

In the week ending January 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 198,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 208,000 to 207,000. The 4-week moving average was 205,000, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since January 20, 2024 when it was 203,250. The previous week’s average was revised down by 250 from 211,750 to 211,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced the overhaul of its national enforcement projects for fiscal year 2026 to ensure an even-handed, responsive approach to investigations to produce the best results for American workers, retirees, and their families. The changes to the national enforcement projects, the most significant EBSA has made in recent years, highlight where EBSA will focus its enforcement resources to increase broad-based employee benefit plan compliance, address abusive practices and bad actors, and deliver results that increase security for participants and beneficiaries. “EBSA’s enforcement powers are broad and impact American workers, retirees, and their families through many stages of life. Because of that, it’s vitally important that our investigators focus on areas that we feel will produce the best results,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “By recalibrating the areas our investigators focus on, EBSA investigations will be more efficient, responsive, and prioritize serious misconduct rather than minor foot faults.” Under the updated enforcement projects, investigators will prioritize cases related to: CybersecurityBarriers to mental health and substance use disorder benefits Protecting benefit distributions Retirement asset managementSurprise billingCriminal abuse of contributory benefit plansAlthough not a national project, EBSA will continue its long-standing commitment to identifying abusive Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements and preventing fraudulent MEWA operators from opening new arrangements in other states. EBSA removed Employee Stock Ownership Plans from the national enforcement project list and will reduce its focus on missing participants following the establishment of the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database.“We are committed to conducting our investigations in a timely and fair manner, ensuring both compliance outcomes and recoveries that benefit participants and beneficiaries,” said Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security Daniel Aronowitz. “We urge plans and service providers under review to respond promptly to our requests for information and findings, which will aid us in resolving issues efficiently and effectively.”EBSA is responsible for protecting more than 156 million workers, retirees, and their families who are covered by approximately 2.6 million health plans, 801,000 private retirement plans, and 514,000 additional welfare benefit plans. Together, these plans hold about $13.8 trillion in assets.Employers and workers can contact EBSA at askebsa.dol.gov or call 866-444-3272 toll-free for help with private sector job-based retirement and health plans.             Learn more about EBSA’s national enforcement projects.