U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer completed a four-state swing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska as she nears the end of her 50-state “America at Work” listening tour, meeting with construction workers, business leaders, local officials, healthcare workers, and apprentices as part of her promise to speak directly with the hardworking men and women who keep our nation running strong.
“Whether it’s the students who are excited about getting their foot in the door through apprenticeship opportunities, or the business leaders who get to grow and expand their footprint thanks to President Trump’s pro-worker policies, hardworking Americans across the country are excited to have an Administration dedicated to putting them first,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “I’m going to continue these conversations so I can go back to the President and share stories from every industry about what’s working and what isn’t – and learn how we can best support the American Worker through it all.”
North Dakota
In Fargo, the Secretary joined Governor Kelly Armstrong and the team at Applied Digital Corp. for a tour of the Polaris Forge 2 construction site, an AI data center currently underway. Viewing the two upcoming facilities on the 900-acre campus, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer spoke with the construction workers and businessmen and women who shared her emphasis on connecting the next generation of workers with in-demand jobs, such as electricians and pipefitters, which are necessary for AI-driven projects.
Following the tour, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Governor Armstrong engaged with local construction partners and community leaders. The Secretary reaffirmed her commitment to bringing everyone to the table – men and women from all backgrounds and industries – so businesses can grow and their employees can enjoy the Golden Age of prosperity. She reiterated that AI is here to stay, and the Department of Labor is working to advance AI literacy and proficiency for students and workers as they prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.
South Dakota
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured three Sanford Health locations in Sioux Falls while engaging with their leadership to discuss innovations in virtual care, gastroenterology, and pediatric medicine. Sanford Health is the largest rural health system in the U.S., providing access to high-quality care in America’s heartland for over 2 million patients. Her visit began with a tour of the Sanford Virtual Care Center, where she saw firsthand how Sanford is preparing the next generation of clinicians for new care delivery models and paving the way for the innovative future of health care.
Expanding on that goal of equipping workers with the tools to navigate AI infrastructure in their unique fields, the medical team offered the Secretary hands-on experience with their AI algorithm for colon cancer screening while at the Sanford Center for Digestive Health. Concluding the visit, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured the Sanford Children’s Hospital and discussed the importance of employee retention with the facility’s leadership.
Iowa
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs hosted the Secretary for a tour of their campus, where she heard directly from apprentices and their instructors how workforce development programs open doors for those who do not wish to pursue a four-year-degree. The tour included visits to Iowa Western’s welding and HVAC labs, where she met with students pursuing those trades.
The Secretary reiterated her belief that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work and emphasized her focus on creating new and better pathways to the workforce that do not rely on a traditional college route.
Nebraska
In Ohama, the Secretary engaged with Union Pacific Railroad Co. workers, leadership, and Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena at its state-of-the-art Training Center and Harriman Dispatching Center where she witnessed the inventive and robust training required for developing the railroad’s skilled workforce, even operating simulated equipment with the assistance of future locomotive engineers currently under Union Pacific’s instruction.
While at the sites, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer participated in the same unique, hands-on learning environment that future dispatchers and engineers enjoy. She also joined dispatchers, engineers, and other Union Pacific employees in a roundtable discussion to hear about their personal experiences. Many echoed her message on the importance of exposing students to vocational training early and allowing them to make mortgage-paying salaries without a college degree. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer shared with the staff and leadership that at her direction, the department has added over 300,000 new apprentices and registered 2,512 new apprenticeship programs, which puts President Trump’s goal of 1 million active apprentices well within reach.
Throughout her “America at Work” tour, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has beaten the drum of ensuring America’s workforce remains competitive and prepared for the jobs of the future. She will continue to take her insights from the listening tour directly to the President as they work together to put the American Worker first.