Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in response to the U.S District Court’s temporary block on AmeriCorps’ cancellation of grants and early discharge of corps members.
WASHINGTON, DC (June 5, 2025) - Earlier today, a federal judge ordered the restoration of funds to AmeriCorps programs impacted by recent grant terminations. This decision applies only to plaintiffs in the case: 24 states and Washington, DC*. The injunction also calls for dismissed AmeriCorps NCCC members to return to service.
This is a significant result that corrects the immediate and devastating effects of the arbitrary decisions that led to this lawsuit. AmeriCorps is good for America and consistently delivers a triple-bottom line of value to our country: service years transform lives, strengthen our communities, and bring our citizens together in ways that fuel civic renewal.
While a victory in the courts, for now, there is still much to determine about how this decision will actually lead to the reinstatement of dismissed corps members and restoration of vital service in our communities. The court’s decision does not, for example, reverse course on the termination of AmeriCorps agency staff. As a result, the work to reinstate corps members and restore programs is left to an overwhelmed and significantly reduced staff.
The past weeks have made clear the disruption and harm caused by the demobilization of AmeriCorps NCCC and termination of nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants.
In Montana, more than $1.2 million in grants were eliminated, removing AmeriCorps members from schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, veterans facilities, and state agencies.
In Tennessee, organizations that lost AmeriCorps funding include:
- Family & Children’s Services, a nonprofit that supports children and volunteers in the foster system.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, which mentors around 800 local kids annually.
- Nashville Diaper Connection, which provides diapers to about 6,000 babies in need every month.
In addition to ongoing litigation within the courts, there remain significant questions about the disbursement of FY25 AmeriCorps grants. Furthermore, the president’s FY26 budget calls for funds only to support the orderly shutdown of AmeriCorps operations.
Service Year Alliance remains committed to working with federal leaders and our partners to strengthen the culture of service in our country. We call on the administration and Congress to prioritize service years, and ensure the full restoration of funding that empowers corps members, volunteers, and the states and communities they serve.
*Plaintiffs include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Take Action Now:
- Contact your Members of Congress and tell them why our communities need AmeriCorps.
- Donate to the emergency fund established for impacted AmeriCorps members.
- Contribute your service year story and highlight the ways AmeriCorps has shaped your personal and professional journey.
About Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. We envision a future in which national service is an integral part of growing up in America, with one million young people serving their communities each year. To make this vision a reality, we partner with states, agencies, and local organizations to expand the number of service year opportunities through new models and funding sources. To enhance the corps member and alumni experience, we develop partnerships to build and scale key national service innovations to demonstrate how service transforms lives. At the core of our work is a commitment to raising up the voices and experiences of young people, corps members, and alumni.
Media Contact: Nick Zevely, [email protected]
