(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Earlier this month, the Trump Administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) issued new guidance regarding Registered Apprenticeship Programs. In response, SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation) General President Michael Coleman released the following statement:

“I’ve said since January 2025 that I’m committed to calling balls and strikes with this Administration.

Calling for one million new Apprentices?

That’s a strike.

Getting to one million Apprentices by lowering the standards and potentially damaging our Union’s Apprenticeship Programs?

That’s a ball, no question.

Our Union’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs are the bedrock of the Sheet Metal Industry - for Workers, for Union Contractors and for our country.

Through our strong Registered Apprenticeships, Working Americans get trained at the highest standards, make a living while learning the Trade and build the infrastructure that our communities rely on.

This has set the bar for our industry and our Nation for generations.

But this model depends on rigorous standards that Apprenticeship Programs must meet to avoid undermining our high-quality training - and the Department of Labor’s guidance puts those standards at risk.

This guidance would encourage Apprenticeship Programs to focus on speed instead of skill development, create a 30-day ‘shot clock’ for the Department of Labor to rubber stamp new programs in a rush and increase flexibility for employers - potentially reducing the current emphasis on protecting Workers and creating opportunity for all Apprentices.   

There’s a lot more to be said about this dangerous guidance.

But I’ll get straight to the point: This is a threat to SMART Members, our families, our Apprenticeship Programs and Tradespeople everywhere.

We urge the Department of Labor to change course, and we call on the President to stand up for our Nation’s Workers by strengthening the standards that protect them.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Trump administration’s Labor Department issues dangerous guidance on registered apprenticeship — GP Coleman responds - SMART Union