AmeriCorps Staff Furloughed Amid Budget Cuts, California to Sue

In a move signaling significant cuts to government services under the Trump administration, AmeriCorps has placed the majority of its staff members on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately. An internal memo from the agency’s interim director, shared with The Associated Press, stated the leave will remain in effect until further notice.

The announcement follows the recent dismissal of the agency’s National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members, young volunteers participating in a roughly 10-month service term. Sources say the actions are linked to the Department of Government Efficiency’s workforce reductions.

According to an AmeriCorps staff member, approximately 15% of the agency’s more than 500 full-time federal employees remain active. With an operating budget of roughly $1 billion, AmeriCorps oversees various volunteering programs, dispatching 200,000 volunteers nationwide to work with schoolchildren, veterans, and older adults, among other areas. The NCCC, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, typically employs over 2,000 individuals aged 18 to 26.

In response to the dismantling of the service program, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that his state will file a lawsuit to halt the program’s dissolution. The California Department of Justice has not yet released details on the grounds for the suit.

AmeriCorps and NCCC have been frequent targets for potential budget cuts. NCCC funding for the last fiscal year totaled nearly $38 million. NCCC members work on projects related to education, housing, urban and rural development, land conservation, and disaster relief, traveling across the country for assignments.

AmeriCorps covers volunteers’ basic expenses, including housing, meals, and limited health benefits, along with a modest living allowance. Members who complete their 1,700-hour service term also receive funding for future education expenses or to apply to certain student loans, a benefit worth about $7,300 this service year.

The volunteers play a crucial role in disaster relief efforts, responding to events such as Hurricane Helene and the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. The organization reports that teams have provided 8 million service hours on nearly 3,400 disaster projects since 1999.