Press Release  AG Campbell Prevents $184 Million In Cuts To AmeriCorps Service Programs

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced that she and a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors prevailed in preserving funding for AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agreed to release over $184 million in funding to AmeriCorps service programs across the country. OMB’s attempted cuts threatened the survival of those programs and the well-being of those who depend on them. 

“While I am glad that, faced with our lawsuit, the Trump Administration has rightly decided to release $184 million in critical funding that helps Massachusetts residents serve their communities, the damage that this Administration continues to cause our Commonwealth cannot be undone,” said AG Campbell. “AmeriCorps is the epitome of public service and civic engagement, yet the Administration’s reckless actions created chaos, uncertainty, and cost people their jobs, simply for wanting to give back. Our lawsuits are working, and we won’t stop fighting to hold the federal government accountable when they harm our residents.”  

AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly address the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs. Every year, the agency provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities and awards grants to local and national organizations and agencies to address critical community needs. AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved the physical and mental well-being of millions of Americans.  

In early February, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force. AmeriCorps subsequently placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025. 

AG Campbell filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. In June, the Court granted a preliminary injunction that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully cancelled and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking.  

Despite the order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for outstanding service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, and many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants. On July 24, AG Campbell and the coalition filed an amended complaint that added OMB as a defendant and filed a subsequent motion for a preliminary injunction, asking the Court to stop OMB from blocking the relevant funds. 

On August 28, the day that the Trump Administration’s response to the states’ second motion for preliminary injunction was due, the Administration informed the Court that OMB has removed its block on the funds, totaling over $184 million. AmeriCorps will make these funds available to nationwide programs as quickly as possible.  

In fiscal year 2024, Massachusetts’ State Service Commission, which monitors and oversees programs supported by AmeriCorps grants, was awarded more than $23 million in AmeriCorps funding to support programs across the state. As a result of OMB’s continued funding block, five AmeriCorps programs in Massachusetts continued to have their funding withheld:  

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which requested $400,000 to continue a program that has received funding from AmeriCorps since 2019. 

• Springfield College AmeriCorps Program, which requested $615,739 to continue a program that has received AmeriCorps funding since 1997. 

• College Advising Corps, hosted by Boston University, which requested $899,875 to continue a program that has received AmeriCorps funding since 2019. 

• Jumpstart for Young Children, which requested $2,060,408 to continue a program that had received AmeriCorps funding since 1997. 

• TerraCorps, which requested $1,000,000 to continue a program that has received AmeriCorps funding since 2011. 

Joining AG Campbell in filing the lawsuit were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. 

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