New Jersey has joined a coalition of 23 states in a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s decision to significantly reduce AmeriCorps’ workforce and funding.
The lawsuit, co-led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, argues that these cuts violate federal law and threaten essential community services nationwide.
In a news release, the coalition of 23 states said the administration’s 90 percent reduction in AmeriCorps’ workforce has hampered “the agency’s ability to continue administering the programs, operations, and funding that make its important work possible.”
The agency sends thousands of people each year to work in schools, on disaster relief projects, in public health and environmental conservation, and in programs for veterans and military families.
The Trump administration’s recent actions include placing 85% of AmeriCorps staff on administrative leave, terminating contracts, and closing over 1,000 programs across the country.
AmeriCorps is a federal agency dedicated to paid national service as well as volunteerism, offering what it says are “opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country.”
AmeriCorps was created in 1993 during the administration of President Bill Clinton, who moved under its umbrella Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), an anti-poverty program established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
AmeriCorps has three main branches: VISTA; State and National; and the National Civilian Community Corps, or NCCC, a residential program that assigns Americans as young as 18 to community service projects in areas such as disaster preparedness and environmental conservation.
In Maryland alone, Broan said more than 20 programs were shut down, affecting services such as education, elderly care, and disaster recovery.
More than 20 attorneys general and two states filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s dismantling of the independent agency under DOGE, which under tech mogul and Trump ally Elon Musk has sought to make cuts across the government.
In New Jersey, AmeriCorps members have been integral to various community initiatives. Programs like Camden PowerCorps focus on environmental challenges, including stormwater management and revitalizing public spaces.
The Recovery Corps in Camden provides peer support for individuals in recovery, aiming to transform southern New Jersey into a community of hope.
Literacy New Jersey trains volunteer tutors to assist adults with reading, writing, math, and English communication skills.
The Public Health AmeriCorps Program at Rutgers University Camden engages in public health promotion and community education, focusing on underserved communities.
Montclair State University’s Healthy Communities Corps addresses food security, mental health, and other social services across the state.
The Paterson Community Schools Corps works to improve educational outcomes in the City of Paterson.
The Watershed Ambassadors Program promotes watershed stewardship through education and community involvement.
“These programs, among others, have been instrumental in addressing critical needs in education, health, and environmental conservation across the state,” said Lisa McCormick, a Democratic activist who said New Jersey’s congressional delegation has been weak in response to Trump’s illegal behavior.
According to its website, the agency has about 1.3 million alumni who have served across a variety of programs, such as college students teaching part-time in preschools for lower-income families or older adults serving as foster grandparents in child mentorship programs.
Thousands of AmeriCorps members are also regularly placed in national parks and community groups working on campaigns related to mental health disorders and substance abuse.
The coalition’s lawsuit contends that the federal government’s actions undermine the statutory responsibilities of AmeriCorps, which was established by Congress to support community service initiatives.
By incapacitating the agency’s ability to administer grants and support programs, the administration is accused of overstepping its authority and violating the Administrative Procedures Act.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome will have significant implications for the future of national service programs and the communities that rely on them.
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