Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
H.R. 5304 is a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies, with a large portion of the text detailing funding for the Department of Labor programs. It provides specific funding levels for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, the National Apprenticeship Act, Job Corps, unemployment insurance and related employment services, state and national program operations, and various administration and policy offices within the Department of Labor (along with certain general provisions and transfer authorities). The bill also includes targeted provisions related to outlying areas, veterans’ employment programs, and proposed spending on workforce and education initiatives, while establishing rules on salary caps, program integrity, and cross-cutting administrative authorities. A notable feature is a rescission of $712 million that was previously made available in 2025. In short, the bill is designed to fund job training, apprenticeship expansion, job placement services, job corps operations and construction, unemployment insurance administration, and related employment and workforce programs, while granting various flexibilities and safeguards for program administration and integrity.
Key Points
- 1Department of Labor funding for WIOA and related programs: A total of $2,594,412,000 plus reimbursements, including specific allotments for adult employment/training activities and dislocated worker activities (with detailed timing for when funds are available and special provisions for outlying areas and consolidated grants). A separate $786,859,000 is allocated for national programs, including a dislocated workers national reserve and other targeted initiatives.
- 2Job Corps funding: A total of $880,078,000 (plus reimbursements) for Job Corps operations, with $801,663,000 for operations, $61,500,000 for construction/rehabilitation/acquisition of centers (with transfer flexibility under certain conditions), and $16,915,000 for necessary expenses. A note that meal services at Job Corps centers cannot be funded from other appropriations.
- 3Apprenticeship and youth/industry programs: $285,000,000 to expand opportunities through apprenticeships registered under the National Apprenticeship Act, available from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Other earmarks include $120,000,000 for training and employment assistance (split between regional and community college-focused programs) and $65,000,000 for Native American programs, $105,000,000 for YouthBuild activities, and related technical assistance and demonstration projects.
- 4Outlying areas flexibility: Provisions allow outlying areas to submit a single consolidated grant application for subtitle B activities of WIOA and to use funds across eligible programs with Secretary-approved reporting, bypassing certain standard allotment requirements.
- 5General provisions and administration: Several safeguards and authorities, including (a) a salary cap for Job Corps employees (Executive Level II), (b) limited transfer authority between programs (generally capped at small percentages), (c) authorization for program evaluation and possible transfer of evaluation funds, and (d) anti-forced labor procurement prohibitions. There is also a significant emphasis on program integrity funding and IT modernization, with authority to transfer funds to support administrative enhancements and evaluation functions.