Nearly two dozen states have sued the Trump administration over large cuts at AmeriCorps, a volunteer service agency.
The lawsuit was led by Democratic state officials who are also suing the administration over canceling millions in grant funding.
“In an attempt to dismantle the agency, the Trump administration and its DOGE demolition team made abrupt and drastic cuts to staff and volunteers and terminated grants,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement to the Associated Press. “We are suing to stop this illegal dismantling of AmeriCorps and preserve the spirit of community service in our state and nation.”
Approximately 85% of AmeriCorps staff were put on administrative leave this month, the complaint says.
AmeriCorps sends thousands of volunteers to serve in communities around the country and supplies money across the states.
The lawsuit alleges that President Donald Trump and the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency stripped the agency down illegally and reneged on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National program, which Congress budgeted $557 million for this year.
“AmeriCorps volunteers serve our communities every single day, and we will stand up for the critical programs AmeriCorps supports,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. “We will fight this senseless move and look forward to seeing the Trump Administration in court.”
The White House has said AmeriCorps issued improper payments totaling over $40 million in 2024, citing insufficient documentation from grantees, calculation errors, and miscoded expenses.
“President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch,” Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary, told the outlet.
Notices that grants were being terminated were reportedly sent late on Friday, detailing that “the award no longer effectuates agency priorities” and directing grant recipients to immediately cease the projects.
WHAT IS DOGE? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
Rachel Bruns, chief engagement officer with America’s Service Commissions, said commissions in Wisconsin, Alabama, Wyoming, Oregon, and Maine have reported that their entire portfolios for the AmeriCorps State and National grant program have been cut.
Projects such as after-school programs, services for veterans, food pantries, efforts to prevent child abuse, and home building have been affected.
“We don’t know what this means for these services in some of these communities that were impacted,” Bruns said.