The nonprofit, nonpartisan Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in response to the dismissal of AmeriCorps staff and termination of nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants.
WASHINGTON, DC (April 26, 2025) - This past week, additional steps were taken at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to dismantle AmeriCorps and defund the service programs that care for our communities and put Americans to work.
On Thursday, a significant number of staff began receiving notifications that their employment will be terminated, effective June 24. This layoff followed a decision last week to place most of the agency’s staff on paid, administrative leave. Taken together, the agency - as it is currently resourced - cannot deliver on its commitments as the federal agency for national service and volunteerism and primary sponsor of service years.
Additionally, on Friday evening, close to $400 million in grants were rescinded from AmeriCorps grantees. This funding enabled more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations and civic institutions nationwide to host AmeriCorps members and Seniors volunteers. Without this funding, nearly 33,000 corps members and Seniors volunteers could be affected.
Already, cuts to national service are leaving our neighbors and communities without the help they need. In North Carolina, 52 members conducting relief work after Hurricane Helene were recalled last week as part of the demobilization of AmeriCorps NCCC.
In the days ahead, the schools, food banks, senior care facilities, and homeless shelters impacted by the most recent cuts - organizations that typically do not operate with an abundance of resources and reserves - will have to navigate this potential and sudden loss of people power.
Impacted service roles include:
- VISTA members helping distribute diapers and other essential hygiene items to young families in need.
- Corps members focused on food access, ensuring their neighbors’ pantries are stocked and include healthy options.
- VISTA members helping high school students, many of whom would be first generation college students, find the right post-secondary education or career next step.
Yet to be determined, is the impact of telling tens of thousands of Americans who committed a year of service to our country that their expertise, dedication, and goodwill is not needed.
As AmeriCorps Alums have overwhelmingly shared with us, a year of service is a transformative experience that changes lives, strengthens communities, and brings us closer together as a nation. At Service Year Alliance, we envision a future where national service is part of growing up in America. Now is the time to invest in national service, not step back from it.
Take Action Now:
- Contact your Members of Congress and tell them why our communities need AmeriCorps.
- Donate to the emergency fund established for impacted members of AmeriCorps NCCC.
- 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.
