On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at modernizing federal workforce programs to better prepare Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs. This initiative directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to review and realign existing federal workforce programs, focusing on emerging industries and the opportunities presented by reshoring and re-industrialization.
The executive order emphasizes a shift from the traditional “college for all” approach to one that values career preparation through apprenticeships and technical education.
For ACCA members, this policy change underscores the importance of skilled trades in the evolving American economy. By aligning workforce programs with the needs of industries like HVACR, the executive order aims to create a more robust pipeline of talent equipped to meet the demands of modern manufacturing and technology-driven sectors.
ACCA President and CEO Barton James released the following statement regarding President Trump’s executive order:
ACCA welcomes the restored focus on skilled trades through the president’s workforce modernization plan. Our members have told us that workforce development is the number one issue they face today; we need more skilled workers in the HVACR industry as well as in our economy, and apprenticeships can help bridge the skills gap. This type of federal recognition reaffirms what our industry has long known: that careers in HVACR are essential, high-paying, and critical to America’s infrastructure and energy future.
Registered apprenticeships certainly are a step in the right direction. These programs offer a proven model for training skilled professionals through a mix of classroom learning and on-the-job experience.
As the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education develop their plans under this order, we look forward to facilitating close collaboration with contractors and industry stakeholders—those who understand the skills our workforce needs to master and, in many cases, already operate impressive in-house training programs. Expanding apprenticeships to better support both in-house training and multi-state programs will be essential to meeting the president’s goal of 1 million new apprentices.
ACCA remains committed to supporting policies that advance workforce development and create opportunities for individuals to thrive in the HVACR profession. We’re optimistic about the doors this could open for more of our members who have impressive in-house training programs to offer apprenticeships, as well as for partnerships with local high schools and trade schools.
We look forward to advancing the conversation just as we always do as this initiative takes shape.
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