President Donald Trump stated his opinions on the community college sector, showing support for name changes and more focus on job training in an address Feb. 1 at the annual Republican Retreat in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
At the same time, North Carolina community colleges have already started programs to help remedy many of Trump's concerns.
“We can invest in workforce development, job training and open new vocational schools because we want every American to be able to reach their full God-given potential,” Trump said in his speech.
His comments raised some skepticism, especially from members of the National Skills Coalition, who believe the Trump administration should mimic his words with actual action.
Andy Van Kleunen, CEO of the National Skills Coalition, released a statement criticizing Trump’s agencies.
"The president’s agencies have either called for deep cuts to workforce programs, or they have refused to spend the training resources Congress has already given to them,” the statement said.
Kleunen referenced the president’s last budget proposal, which called for cuts in job training, technical education and apprenticeship — though these cuts were later rejected by Congress.
Similarly, Kleunen recounted that when the president first presented his plan for a comprehensive infrastructure proposal, he promised to train a million new apprentices and increase the number of skilled workers in the United States.
The most recent version of Trump's plan does not mention this goal.