President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that removes regulations on apprenticeships.
The president signed the order at a ceremony surrounded by workers, as well as his daughter and adviser Ivanka, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Trump said the aim of the order is to help Americans “find a rewarding career, earn a great living, and support themselves and their families and love going to work in the morning.”
“We will be removing federal restrictions that have prevented many different industries from creating apprenticeship programs. We have regulations on top of regulations,” Trump added. He went on to say that this order will empower companies and create new apprenticeships for “millions of our citizens.”
Federally funded apprenticeship programs currently have to receive certification from the Labor Department and the executive order allows companies to essentially monitor themselves. The order also calls for cabinet secretaries to promote the use of apprenticeships in colleges and universities and establishes a task force to figure out how best to expand the use of apprenticeships.