On May 19, Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies regarding the administration's FY 2027 budget request. He defended a proposal that would significantly reduce federal workforce investments and eliminate longstanding programs, including Job Corps, in favor of more flexible approaches.

Apprenticeship remained central to the administration's vision — framed as a scalable, employer-driven model that better aligns training with real-time labor market demand, consistent with last year's National Talent Strategy.

Immigration also surfaced during the hearing. Sen. Collins (R-ME) raised concerns about slow temporary work visa processing affecting her state's tourism economy, while Sen. Hyde-Smith (R-MS) highlighted challenges facing agricultural employers and called for improvements to H-2 visa pathways.

For LeadingAge, the hearing highlights two key trends: the administration's apprenticeship focus may create opportunities for aging services providers, and the broad, bipartisan concern over immigration underscores how closely workforce challenges are tied to immigration policy — even as legislative solutions remain elusive.