President Donald Trump announced a goal to increase the number of new, active registered apprentices in the United States to one million. In connection with this, the U.S. Department of Labor developed new guidelines aimed at accelerating the growth of apprenticeship programs.

The most recent House Appropriations Committee bill, which funds labor, health and human services, and education, proposes $290 million for apprenticeships. This proposed appropriation represents an increase of $5 million from the 2026 funding level. An earlier announcement established a $145 million pay-for-performance incentive program specifically for apprenticeships.

Despite these efforts, Congress has not reauthorized the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. Additionally, the regulatory framework governing apprenticeships has not received a substantive update since 2008. Representative Nathaniel Moran, a Republican from Texas, and Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, filed legislation in April to create a payroll tax credit for employers offering registered apprenticeships, but this legislation has not advanced.

A study conducted by the Urban Institute for the Labor Department found that approximately one-third of employers experience a financial loss on their apprenticeship programs. The study indicated that the median return on investment for employers is $1.44 for every $100 invested in these programs.

Aileen Ma, the policy lead on P–20 pathways to postsecondary success at EdTrust, spoke about the practical challenges. "I genuinely does take a lot of work to start an apprenticeship program," Ma said. Taylor White, the director of postsecondary pathways for youth at the think tank New America, discussed the necessary financial input. "I really do think the investment needs to be in the infrastructure to actually operate the system," White said.