Astoria leaders, students and businesses rally after USDOL closure order; temporary restraining order pauses shutdown

Astoria held an emergency City Council meeting on June 4 after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a May 29 plan to close 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers, including Tongue Point. Mac McGoldrick, director of Tongue Point Job Corps, told the council the USDOL notice would "displace more than 330 students and 171 staff members," and said centers had been ordered to send students home by June 6 and to complete staff terminations by June 30. McGoldrick added that a federal temporary restraining order issued earlier that day directed the Department of Labor to "cease all shutdown activities," briefly pausing the planned removals.

The meeting brought federal, county and local leaders together with students, alumni, staff and dozens of community organizations. Gustavo Guerrero, reading a letter from Oregon’s congressional delegation, said the May 29 announcement "included an order to remove all students from campus by June 6 and complete staff terminations by June 30" and urged USDOL to reverse course. Mayor Fitzpatrick read a separate letter from state Senator Suzanne Weber expressing ongoing advocacy and support for the center.

Community and business leaders detailed Tongue Point’s local economic and workforce role. David Reid of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce estimated the center accounted for roughly $16,300,000 in direct local spending and said the loss of about 171 professional jobs would be hard to replace. Eric Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, described the hospital’s reliance on the center’s certified medical assistant pipeline and said that losing Tongue Point would weaken local health-care recruitment.

Local institutions pledged immediate supports. Jared Hogue, president of Clatsop Community College, said the college would accommodate affected students with online options where feasible and the college foundation had committed to fund at least a term of education for impacted students. Katrina Sturgeon of Northwest Oregon Works outlined rapid-response services — employment navigation, help applying for unemployment and possible job- or career-fair coordination. Clatsop Community Action and faith groups told the council they had identified dozens of housing units and offers of cash or hotel funding to shelter displaced staff and students if needed.

Students and staff gave emotional testimony about the program’s role in providing housing, training and stability. Deputy director Jessica Richta said staff and students are "grieving," and several current students described being uprooted from programs — particularly maritime training that attracts learners from far outside Oregon. Alumni and community volunteers urged residents to host students, attend a job fair and write to elected officials.

Council action at the meeting was procedural: Councilor Davis moved and the council approved an extension of the meeting; no formal votes were taken on policy measures related to the center. Mayor Fitzpatrick said the city will continue to convene follow-up meetings as new information becomes available and to coordinate with federal, state and county partners.

What happens next: the temporary restraining order temporarily prevents the Department of Labor from carrying out shutdown actions, but it is not a reversal of the closure decision. Local officials and community groups said they will continue political pressure, seek federal clarification, pursue legal options, and coordinate housing and employment supports for students and staff while the court process and federal negotiations continue.