AmeriCorps must restore funding and workers to states that sued over cuts, federal judge rules

By HANNAH FINGERHUT The Trump administration must restore hundreds of millions of dollars in AmeriCorps grant funding and thousands of organization workers in about two dozen states a federal judge ruled Thursday Related Articles Friedman We are being governed by Trump Organization Inc Cruel and petty and stupid SF leaders furious over plan to erase Harvey Milk s name from Navy ship Trump administration plans to end funding to California high-speed rail project Dowd Why the tech bro really had to go Bay Area cities called out in sanctuary list find themselves in crosshairs of immigration standoff U S District Judge Deborah L Boardman granted a temporary block on the agency s cancellation of grants and early discharge of corps members but only for the states that sued the administration in April The federal lawsuit filed by Democratic state personnel across the country accused President Donald Trump s cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Governing body Efficiency of reneging on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National venture which was budgeted million in congressionally approved funding this year Boardman also noted all AmeriCorps National Civilian District Corps members that were discharged from their operation terms early should be reinstated if they are willing and able to return But Boardman allowed the -year-old federal agency for volunteer arrangement to proceed with its reduction in force denying the states request to restore the majority of staff that were put on administrative leave in April The agency employs more than full-time federal workers and has an operating budget of roughly billion AmeriCorps did not right away respond to request for comment The Department of Justice declined to comment The -year-old agency created to facilitate volunteer system across the country oversees several programs that dispatch hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of people to serve in communities It sends roughly corps members across the country as part of its system programs The majority corps members get a living stipend during their institution and become eligible for funding for future learning expenses or to apply for certain scholar loans As part of the AmeriCorps State and National grant initiative state volunteer commissions distributed more than million in formula-based distributions as well as million in competitive grants that supported nearly corps members serving at organizations according to announcements last year Notices of grants being terminated were sent late on a Friday in April explaining the award no longer effectuates agency priorities and directing grantees to right away shut down the projects according to a copy reviewed by The Associated Press The states that sued the administration noted those extensive and immediate cancellations did not provide the legally required notice and comment period They noted the consequence would be severely curtailed services and programs for vulnerable populations since states and organizations could not fill the funding void AmeriCorps argued in court filings that a temporary block on the agency s actions as the lawsuit proceeds would disrupt efforts to comply with Trump s executive order creating DOGE and to act as responsible stewards of citizens funds according to court filings Despite bipartisan backing AmeriCorps has long been a target of critics who decry bloat inefficiencies and misuse of funds President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch Anna Kelly White House deputy press secretary previously reported in a declaration after the lawsuit was filed The lawsuit was filed by officers in Maryland Delaware California Colorado Arizona Connecticut Washington DC Hawaii Illinois Kentucky Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington and Wisconsin