WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expand job training for skilled trades this week, shifting focus from traditional college degrees to careers requiring hands-on expertise and apprenticeships.

The move is part of his broader strategy to boost U.S. manufacturing, a goal he has tied closely to his aggressive tariff policies. The order directs the Labor, Education, and Commerce Departments to develop workforce training aligned with emerging industries, including those influenced by artificial intelligence. According to a White House summary, the plan seeks to support more than a million apprenticeships annually.

Trump, who campaigned to revitalize the American industry and bring back blue-collar jobs, has long criticized the decline in vocational training. His administration argues that while tariffs can drive demand for domestically produced goods, the U.S. must also rebuild the labor pipeline to sustain a manufacturing resurgence.

"After years of shuffling Americans through an economically unproductive postsecondary system, President Trump will refocus young Americans on career preparation," the White House said in the summary.

The executive order emphasizes support for skilled jobs such as electricians, machinists, and nursing assistants—roles that often require certification and training but not necessarily a four-year college degree. Administration officials say the plan aims to steer federal resources away from what they describe as ineffective education programs, though details on funding were not immediately released.

"This is like a training center, right, for what we are trying to do, which is jobs at great salaries," Trump said while signing the order in the Oval Office.

The initiative also reflects a political bet. In the 2024 election, Trump secured 56 percent of the vote among Americans without a college degree—13 points ahead of Democratic opponent Kamala Harris and 6 points above his 2020 performance. He has increasingly courted labor unions and working-class voters, once a Democratic stronghold.

At the same time, Trump has escalated attacks on elite universities, accusing them of promoting radical ideologies. He has threatened to strip federal research funds and tax breaks from institutions like Harvard, moves the universities have condemned as politically motivated.

While the order's text has not yet been released, the administration says its goal is clear: redirect attention and funding toward practical, high-demand career paths that can sustain the country's economic future.