California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state's intent to sue the Trump administration for allegedly dismantling AmeriCorps. This follows reports that approximately 85% of AmeriCorps federal staff were placed on paid administrative leave and all AmeriCorps NCCC members were sent home. The Trump administration stated it was reassessing funding and cutting government spending.
AmeriCorps NCCC, a program for 18-to-26-year-olds, was significantly affected. Congress allocated over $1.3 billion to AmeriCorps for fiscal year 2025, with California being the largest recipient, receiving $132.8 million in the previous year. The program's members contributed significantly to community service, including wildfire relief and student support.
Newsom criticized the federal government's actions, stating that they are a rejection of volunteers' service. California plans to increase recruitment for its own service corps while pursuing legal action. The California Service Corps boasts four paid service programs, and AmeriCorps members in California provided nearly 4.4 million hours of service in the 2023-2024 service year.
America's Service Commissions urged continued federal funding and operational continuity for AmeriCorps to mitigate the negative impact on volunteers and communities served. They expressed gratitude for past bipartisan support.