New America’s Comments on U.S. DOL’s Proposed Enhancements to the National Apprenticeship System

In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed significant revisions to the regulations (CFR, Subtitle A, Parts 29 & 30) that govern the nation’s registered apprenticeship system. Teased by the department for months, the proposed "system enhancements" would introduce significant changes to nearly every aspect of the existing system.

After a period of significant stakeholder engagement, New America has submitted public comments in response to the Department's rulemaking effort. In these comments, we praise some aspects of the proposed rule, recommend modifications to specific provisions, and raise questions about proposals that, in our estimation, may ultimately serve to undermine the Department's vision for quality, access, and scale.