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The U.S. Department of Education is partnering with the Department of Labor to present students with a new opportunity to enter a Talent Search Program that awards grants for higher education.
Plans to run the 2026 federal TRIO grant competition were detailed in a press release issued on Tuesday, noting that additional competitions will also be held in the late spring and summertime. Students seeking a college education or hands-on training through apprenticeship programs will be eligible to enter.
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker described a need to boost the training to workforce journey, noting in the press release, “As the nation faces a shortage of more than 700,000 skilled workers, the Trump Administration is transforming the Federal government’s approach to workforce development.”
“We are proud to partner with the Department of Labor to streamline postsecondary and workforce education programs to better serve students, institutions of higher education, and grantees,” he added.
Last year, the Department of Labor developed a website to connect students with apprenticeships. This “one-stop source” was designed to help career-oriented students find apprenticeship programs with employers.
Now, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is celebrating a new partnership with the Department of Labor and the unveiling of the first grant competitions designed to expand educational resources for students and future apprentices. In a post on X, she declared, “Together, we are building the Golden Age of the American workforce!”