Department of War Announces $10 Million Award Supporting Americans in Skilled Trades

The Department of War welcomed Mike Rowe to the Pentagon Thursday, where a $10 million award was announced toward the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, which puts people on a path to skills-based work.

Why does this matter?

The foundation offers a separate path to success in life. Rather than pursuing a typical four-year college degree, the foundation focuses on investing in skills-trade jobs and training Americans to take those jobs that run the country.

What are people saying?

• Department of War via X: "This initiative will help strengthen our nation by connecting more Americans with careers in the skilled trades, growing the workforce that builds, maintains, and powers our country"
• Mike Rowe: “People often don’t connect the dots, but the skills gap deeply impacts our country’s ability to protect itself. We need those workers to build ships, aircrafts, armed state-of-the-art vehicles, defense systems, and energy infrastructure”

The new federal initiative "Build Freedom" is designed to promote skilled trades in the U.S. and will launch in Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania this week and roll out in more states throughout the year.

Promoting trade jobs is promoting jobs that power our country, teachings skills for Americans to become electricians, plumbers, mechanics and other skills-trades.

“People often don’t connect the dots, but the skills gap deeply impacts our country’s ability to protect itself. We need those workers to build ships, aircrafts, armed state-of-the-art vehicles, defense systems, and energy infrastructure," Rowe told the Washington Examiner.

According to the National Skills Coalition, 54% of jobs in Texas require skills training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree. Only 45% of Texas workers have the skills training necessary to fill the gap.

The U.S. is promoting closing the skills gap, hoping it will strengthen the nation by "connecting more Americans with careers in the skilled trades, growing the workforce that builds, maintains, and powers our country".