The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) published new guidance (TEGL 05-25) urging state and local workforce development systems to request expanded waivers allowing them greater discretion and flexibility to use federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) formula funds to implement the Trump Administration’s vision for America’s workforce under President Trump’s April Executive Order 14278, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.
This TEGL encourages states to make increased use of waivers “to scale industry-driven strategies, enhance worker mobility, create opportunities to integrate systems and realign resources, optimize service delivery, improve accountability for participant outcomes, and remove barriers to innovation.” This TEGL also encourages state and local workforce boards to “reconsider what is possible and partner with ETA to achieve the bold vision for reform set forth by this Administration.” ETA notes that even prior to this TEGL, several states already used waiver authority to take advantage of the flexibility in WIOA and a full list of previously granted waivers can be found here.