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This Federal Program Trains Older Workers - The Trump Administration Wants To Cut It

The program helps older workers secure employment, but it may be cut.

By Paige Cerulli , Edited by Andrea Basse

Updated May 23, 2026

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A program that helps older adults secure work to improve their financial fitness could be eliminated. The Trump administration proposed eliminating the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in its 2026 budget, potentially leaving older adults without the valuable resource.

Here's what to know about what might happen if the budget passes and the program is eliminated.

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The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

The SCSEP is a community service and work-based job training program designed for low-income, unemployed seniors. Through the program, participants gain work experience and on-the-job training through community service activities at facilities like schools, hospitals, and senior centers.

Participants work approximately 20 hours per week and are paid a stipend for their time. In exchange, public and non-profit agencies receive over 40 million community service hours, which helps them enhance and provide services. Ultimately, the SCSEP helps some participants develop the skills and experience needed to transition into non-subsidized work.

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Who's eligible for the SCSEP

SCSEP participants must meet certain requirements, including being at least 55-years-old, unemployed, and having a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level. As of 2025, 125% of the federal poverty level was $19,563 for an individual and $26,438 for couples.

The proposed budget and the elimination of the SCSEP

The 2026 proposed budget includes the elimination of the SCSEP. The budget states that the SCSEP "has served as an earmark to leftist, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)-promoting organizations instead of helping seniors in need." The budget argues that the SCSEP's function is already addressed by government agencies and programs, which "have proven track records of increasing wages, as opposed to this ineffective and duplicative program."

Congress authorized $395 million in funding for the SCSEP during fiscal year 2026, cutting about $10 million from the $405 million authorized during fiscal year 2025.

The Trump administration also called for the elimination of the SCSEP during Trump's first term.

Prior SCSEP funding issues

This isn't the first time the program has navigated funding issues. In 2025, the Department of Labor withheld more than $300 million in grant payments during a four-month funding freeze. As a result, service providers like Goodwill Industries and the National Council on Aging had to furlough or pause services, impacting about 30,000 older adults.

The Department of Labor's actions led to a class-action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts, alleging that the Labor Department unlawfully withheld the funds and caused lost income for program participants.

Though the Department of Labor did release the funds after four months, the damage meant that several organizations weren't able to fully return to their initial capacity.

The consequences of eliminating the SCSEP

Eliminating the SCSEP could have significant consequences for the participating individuals and nonprofits. The National Council on Aging states that the SCSEP is the only major job program designed specifically to help disadvantaged older adults who need to remain in or return to the workforce.

According to the Labor Department's most recent SCSEP progress report, more than 42,000 individuals participated in the program in 2023.

Who might be impacted

The program helps older adults who face significant challenges reentering the workforce, and many of these individuals have already exhausted other federal programs. Since age discrimination and age bias are tremendous challenges in today's workplace, the program provides a much-needed support and resource for many older adults who need to work to avoid a financial crisis.

These individuals could suffer if the SCSEP were eliminated, and if older adults are unable to work, more might come to rely on federal support programs. Since program participants rely on the stipends to pay for expenses like rent, food, medication, and transportation, the loss of the program could be financially devastating.

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What advocates say about the program

SCSEP advocates say the government doesn't consider the significant challenges that participants face, and that non-subsidized employment isn't necessarily the only measure of success for some participants. While some individuals might move on to non-subsidized jobs, other participants might simply benefit from the technology training they receive, which helps them continue to live with less assistance.

Bottom line

The Trump administration budget is a proposal, and it's not final. Congress has the ability to set spending levels for programs like the SCSEP during its fall annual appropriations process. Be sure to monitor this issue as the budget is finalized and Congress makes its funding decisions.

If the SCSEP is cut, participants may need to look for alternative options. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Senior Environmental Employment Program offers opportunities to Americans at least 55 years old to assist with federal, state, and local environmental projects. Your local council on aging may also be a valuable resource and might be able to connect you with local programs and job training opportunities to help you secure employment and earn extra money.

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