On April 23, President Trump issued an executive order to “modernize” U.S. workforce development programs and expand registered apprenticeship programs. The executive order directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to review all federal workforce development programs and submit a report of their findings within 90 days of the order. The executive order also directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to submit plans to reach 1 million new active apprentices per year within six months of the order.  

In March 2025, President Trump previously rescinded executive order (EO)14119 , which expanded registered apprenticeships in federal employment or on federally funded projects. The rescission of EO 14119 also removed the requirement of labor-management forums and agency directives to consult with businesses, educational institutions, and labor unions on ways to improve registered apprenticeship programs. Under President Trump’s latest executive order, the federal government is not required to consult labor unions, despite the integral role labor unions play in registered apprenticeship programs.