Youth & Young Adult Policy Update 02-13-2026

News at NYEC:  

• Join NYEC in Houston, TX for Rooted in Action: 2026 Annual Forum! The National Youth Employment Coalition will head to Houston, TX from March 30 – April 1, 2026, for our annual convening of hundreds of direct service providers, practitioners, community leaders, employers, and young adults. Across three days, participants will cultivate connections; share innovative strategies, proven practices, and community-driven solutions; and explore how collective strength, perseverance, and action can drive meaningful, systemic change. Join us as we work together to increase opportunity and improve education and employment outcomes for all young people!  

Legislative Branch:   

• FY26 Appropriations Update: Congress has finalized most FY2026 appropriations bills, with President Trump signing a $1.2 trillion funding package on February 3 to keep the federal government operating through September 30, 2026. Full-year funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was not included in the package; instead, Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution through February 13, leaving the possibility of a funding lapse if negotiations are not completed by the deadline. 

• Senators Cassidy and Budd Introduce Employer-Directed Skills Act: Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced the Employer-Directed Skills Act. The bill would amend parts of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to make it easier for businesses to use federal workforce funds to select, design, and support training programs tailored to their hiring needs and to partially reimburse employers for training costs, with the goal of better aligning workforce development with employer-identified skill gaps. The full bill text can be found here. 

Executive Branch: 

• U.S. Department of Labor ETA Advisory on Artificial Intelligence Literacy Framework Released: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration issued Training and Employment Notice No. 07-25, announcing the release of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Framework. The framework is intended to support workforce system partners in designing and expanding AI literacy training across public workforce and education programs, helping stakeholders integrate AI-related skills development into program planning and service delivery.  

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

• DOL Grant: YouthBuild 2025: DOL will award grants through a competitive process to eligible public or private non-profit organizations or Tribal entities to provide pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training, education, and job placement services to opportunity youth. YouthBuild prepares participants for quality jobs in various industry sectors, and includes wrap-around supportive services such as assistance in transportation, childcare, and housing. Applications are due March 2, 2026. 

• Forecasted DOL Grant: Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program (PfP IPP): The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program will focus on incentivizing the expansion and growth of the National Apprenticeship System, specifically in industries with a firmly established program infrastructure that will make a significant contribution to the Administration’s goal of exceeding 1 million active apprentices. Applications are estimated to be due March 20, 2026. 

From the States: 

• Missouri: A Missouri lawmaker has proposed lowering the minimum wage for teen workers below the state’s $15 hourly rate. Supporters say it could encourage youth hiring, while critics warn it would reduce earnings for young workers. 

• North Carolina: With new federal workforce dollars, North Carolina is scaling up apprenticeships across key industries. The move aims to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline and create more direct routes into skilled jobs. 

Resources: 

• AI-Resilient Career Pathways: Jobs for the Future explores how education and workforce systems can design early career pathways that remain strong in an AI-driven economy. The approach emphasizes durable skills, employer alignment, and clear on-ramps to quality jobs. 

• Opportunity for Rural Youth Storytellers: Rooted + Rising invites young journalists from rural communities to document their own education ecosystems through a multi-month storytelling initiative led by the Aspen Institute’s Center for Rising Generations and Weave. The program offers participants the chance to strengthen reporting skills, amplify local voices, and highlight community-driven solutions shaping rural education. 

• Opportunity for Young Women in Public Service: Young women interested in politics and public service are invited to apply for the Running Start/Walmart Congressional Fellowship before the February 15 priority deadline. Fellows gain hands-on experience interning in a congressional office while building leadership skills and a strong professional network.