A group of about 150 Democrats told the Trump administration Monday that it objected to proposed changes to federal apprenticeship programs, a key push by the White House. The lawmakers argued that the proposed changes would divert funds from existing “registered apprenticeship” programs and give too much authority to private sector businesses to influence the programs.

“In sum, this proposed regulation undermines the existing RA system, including the investments States, employers and unions have made across the country, by enabling programs to be created with no Departmental oversight and potentially lower quality standards under the name of ‘apprenticeship,” the lawmakers claimed.