Service Year Alliance Statement on the Latest and Most Significant Cuts to AmeriCorps Yet
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Additionally, on Friday evening, close to $400 million in grants were rescinded from AmeriCorps grantees.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.