JFF Letter to Congress on FY27 Appropriations Bills

March 30, 2026

The Honorable Susan Collins
Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Patty Murray
Vice Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Tom Cole
Chair
House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro:

As Congress develops its fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills, Jobs for the Future (JFF) requests consideration of the following priorities to support the needs of workers, students, businesses, and our economy. JFF is a national nonprofit that drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems. We want our nation’s federal and state policies to eliminate dead ends that impede people’s chances to succeed in school, at work, and in life. Our North Star is that by 2033, 75 million people facing barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.

Education and workforce training are vital to improving pathways to good jobs, ensuring robust economic growth, and maintaining U.S. global competitiveness. JFF believes the following priorities will support our nation’s economic needs, build our talent pipeline, support business, and provide pathways to good jobs for workers and students.

Department of Labor

WIOA Title I – JFF recommends an increase in appropriations for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I funding for adults, dislocated workers, and youth in FY 2027. WIOA Title I is essential in supporting the nation’s public workforce system, assisting approximately 700,000 workers and students annually. It provides people facing barriers to employment, as well as incumbent workers, with the training, skills, and supports necessary to attain and retain employment within in-demand sectors and occupations. It also helps our nation’s youth transition successfully into the workforce by connecting them with the career navigation, skills training, and work-based learning opportunities necessary to increase employability and realize their long-term education and career goals.

Apprenticeship – Registered Apprenticeship is a proven model of success, creating industry-driven, quality career pathways for workers, while supporting employer talent development and retention goals. Apprenticeship also plays a key role in supporting critical industries, including building trades, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. JFF requests robust funding for apprenticeship for FY 2027.

Reentry Employment Opportunity Grants (REO) – The REO program funds a range of vital programs that improve labor market outcomes and reduce recidivism among young people involved with the justice system, as well as adults who were once incarcerated. These grants deliver pre- and post-release job training and support services to people returning from prison across the country, including those released under the bipartisan First Step Act of 2018. Additionally, REO funding supports the Pathway Home grant, which provides workforce services to individuals who are incarcerated prior to their release, and a continuation of such services as they transition back into their communities. We request that REO and the Pathway Home grant receive a substantial federal investment for FY 2027.

Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) – JFF requests a continuation of WDQI’s existing funding levels of $6 million, at minimum. This program supports state efforts to build and enhance integrated longitudinal data systems that connect early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary, and workforce sector data. Statewide longitudinal data systems play an essential role in supporting WIOA activities, including program evaluation and outcomes reporting.

Employment Services, Partnerships, and Workforce Development – JFF also requests that Congress provide at least level funding for the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program, YouthBuild, Job Corps, and Employment Services under Wagner-Peyser. These programs play an essential role in supporting our national workforce ecosystem.

Department of Education

Pell Grants – The Pell Grant program remains the bedrock of federal financial aid, providing billions of dollars in need-based aid to support millions of degree and nondegree students annually. As the program faces a shortfall for FY 2027, we request that Congress provide the necessary funds to ensure that the program is at minimum able to maintain existing eligibility standards and award levels. We remain particularly concerned about any adverse changes to eligibility, as these often disproportionately impact nontraditional students. With a strong investment, we believe that Congress can ensure the maximum award is not only maintained but increased to keep up with the cost of attendance. Additionally, added investment could help with program modernization, including expanded eligibility for high-quality short-term postsecondary programs.

Perkins Career and Technical Education – JFF encourages Congress to provide robust funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) state and national grant programs for FY 2027. The CTE state grant program is designed to develop the academic, career, and technical skills of youth and adults in high schools, community colleges, and correctional institutions. Additionally, the national grant program facilitates pathways that help people advance from high school through postsecondary education, and into meaningful careers. Congress must continue these investments to protect U.S. economic competitiveness and foster the development of a highly skilled workforce that is capable of meeting employer needs.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) – Adult Education state grants are designed to help adults become literate, gain skills necessary for employment, obtain a high school diploma or equivalent, and progress to postsecondary education and training. During the 2022-2023 program year, the state grant program served 1.1 million adults, many of whom lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. Additionally, the national grant program supports departmental priorities around program accountability, professional development for educators, and access to educational and training opportunities for adults. JFF encourages Congress to at least maintain funding for AEFLA state and national grants at a combined $729 million.

Supporting Secondary and Postsecondary Research – The Education Innovation and Research program (EIR) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) play critical roles in supporting evidence-based research and data for secondary and postsecondary students, educators, and policymakers. These programs seek to address key challenges in secondary and postsecondary education while also building the evidence base around effective policy and practice. Additionally, we strongly support the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) grant program. JFF requests that Congress provides robust funding for EIR, IES, and SLDS grants for FY 2027, to support the important mission of these programs.

Campus-Based Aid – Federal Work Study (FWS) and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) remain important sources of assistance for both degree and nondegree students and often supplement other need-based aid such as the Pell Grant program. JFF encourages at least a continuation of level funding for the FWS and FSEOG programs at $1.23 billion and $91 million, respectively.

Supporting Postsecondary Student Success – The Title III-A Strengthening Institutions Program, Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) Program, and the Basic Needs Grants and Postsecondary Student Success Grants under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) remain important sources of support for postsecondary student access, persistence, and completion. JFF encourages Congress to at least continue level funding for these essential programs.

We thank you for your consideration and look forward to working with the committee during the FY 2027 appropriations process. For additional information, please reach out to Karishma Merchant, JFF Associate Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, kmerchant@jff.org.

Sincerely,

Maria Flynn
President & CEO
Jobs for the Future