Policy changes at the federal level and shifting state priorities are squeezing community colleges even as they remain central to workforce training and local economic development. Reporting on Durham Tech and other community colleges shows institutions are adapting to changing funding streams while trying to preserve vocational pipelines for trades and health-care occupations. Leaders warn that moving CTE and workforce programs between agencies, coupled with broader Education Department restructurings, could fragment supports that community colleges rely on to deliver short-term credentials and apprenticeship partnerships. Institutional responses include diversifying revenue, strengthening employer partnerships, and expanding credit-for-prior-learning pathways to preserve access for nontraditional students.