Workforce of the Future Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Introduced
Summary
Expand AI and tech education and retraining to help students and workers adapt to AI-driven job changes. The bill orders a federal assessment of AI's effects on the workforce and funds grant programs across K–12, higher education, and workforce training.
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- Students and schools: Creates Education Department grants to build a pre-K through middle school-to-high-school pathway in emerging and advanced technology education, with a focus on reaching underrepresented students and a cap of 15% of grant funds for equipment.
- Workers and labor organizations: Creates Labor Department grants for people seriously affected by AI, prioritizing labor organizations and those with a high school diploma or equivalent, to provide training, certifications, and pathways to high-skill, high-wage jobs; grants run 3–5 years.
- Accountability and funding: Requires multi-year federal reports on AI and the workforce, semiannual grantee data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, and authorizes national activity reserves up to 2.5%. It authorizes $160 million for Education grants and $90 million for Labor grants for FY2026.
*Authorizes $160 million for Education grants and $90 million for Labor grants for FY2026; if appropriated, this would increase federal spending by $250 million in FY2026.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More K-12 and college tech grants
The bill would create Department of Education grants to expand emerging and advanced technology education. Grants would run 3 to 5 years and split funds 50/50 between two types of activities. Eligible applicants would include state and local education agencies, Tribal schools, community and technical colleges, labor organizations, workforce agencies, and institutions of higher education. The bill would define who can apply and list covered topics such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The bill would authorize $160 million for fiscal year 2026 and require some grantees to use funds for teacher training and learning materials.
Training grants for AI-impacted workers
The bill would create Department of Labor grants to train workers most affected by artificial intelligence. The program would be authorized $90 million for fiscal year 2026 and grants would run 3 to 5 years. Eligible individuals would need a high school diploma or equivalent and be employed in an industry projected to see AI growth, or have been involuntarily separated within the prior year and be eligible for unemployment insurance. Grant funds would pay for training, skill certifications, and continuing education. The Labor Secretary would give priority to labor organizations and could reserve up to 2.5 percent for national activities; third-party evaluations would be authorized.
Grantee reporting and expansion review
The bill would require education and labor grantees to report at least twice a year on how grant money is used and how many people are served. Education grantees would report participant counts by race (with detailed Asian and Pacific Islander categories), ethnicity, gender, and National School Lunch Program eligibility. Labor grantees would report participant counts by race, ethnicity, and gender. Not later than five years after the first grant award, the Education and Labor Secretaries would report to Congress with an analysis of grantee data and a recommendation on program expansion.
Joint artificial intelligence workforce reports
The bill would require Labor, Commerce, and Education to produce joint reports about artificial intelligence and jobs. An interim report would be due within 6 months, a final report within 1 year, and an updated report three years after the final report. The reports would analyze data needs, industries and occupations likely affected by artificial intelligence, displacement versus augmentation, skills needed, and demographic impacts. The reports would recommend policies to expand skills access, improve skills transparency, and involve industry and labor.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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