Twenty-two states filed lawsuits Tuesday against the Americorps case alleging that the Trump administration is trying to "demolite" part of a volunteer service organization Sweeping the federal cost-cutting campaign.
The lawsuit says AmeriCorps has placed 85% of its employees before planned layoffs. The agency also allegedly cut its national civil community regiment, which sent volunteers to engage in conservation, natural disaster response and other projects, and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in grants, covering 41% of the agency's budget.
The lawsuit argues that the ruling is linked to the federal cost-cutting drivers of government efficiency departments that violate federal law and constitutional separation as Congress created and funded AmeriCorps.
“If the defendant allows action despite statutory and constitutional flaws, then the defilement of Americorps will cause direct and irreparable harm to the plaintiff, its residents and the entire public,” the lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court of Maryland and was filed in the Federal Court of Maryland.
"There are eight consecutive audits of AmeriCorps, which have determined more than $45 million in improper payments in 2024 alone. President Trump has the legal right to restore responsibility throughout the executive branch," White House spokesman Anna Kelly said in a statement.
Americorps’ inspector general said in November that the agency “has been unable to produce auditable financial statements for the past eight years” and recommended changes to the agency’s financial practices.
Founded in 1993, AmeriCorps oversees approximately 200,000 members, most of whom receive allowances and employs hundreds of people. It fundes programs that operate directly, such as the National Civil Community Corps and grant funding programs supervised by the state.
U.S. grants target the Trump administration to phase out nearly $400 million, reaching volunteer programs in all 50 states, according to the nonprofit U.S. Services Commission.
The U.S. Services Commission said in a statement that the cuts were late Friday without advance notice.
“Thousands of people who are determined to serve the country through Americorps have found their livelihoods suddenly in danger and hundreds of communities are losing the critical services they depend on,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of ASC.
After announcing a significant cut to grants last week, each of AmeriCorps’s California-based service plans were told to stop working.
"These actions of President Trump and Elon Musk are not only threatening our funds - they undermine our values. We will work to stop them," said Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a statement on U.S. cuts.
According to the Governor’s Office, in 2023-24, Americorps volunteers in California accumulated a total of 4,397,674 service hours in 2023-24.
Newsom noted that California has recruited for its own California Service Army program, a group of volunteers he said are now bigger than the Peace Corps.
"Service is at the heart of us as Americans. California is suing the Trump administration for defending thousands of hard-working members and the communities they serve," Newsom said.