Widespread AmeriCorps grant terminations will have a devastating impact on afterschool programs

Update, June 9, 9 a.m. ET: Last Thursday, a U.S. District Court judge in Maryland ruled on the lawsuit filed in late April by 24 states and the District of Columbia that challenged the cancellation of AmeriCorps programs and the terminations of agency staff. The ruling, which only applies in the filing states, includes an injunction ordering the federal government to reverse the cancellation of AmeriCorps grants and projects across the country and to restore those programs, funding and personnel including AmeriCorps and VISTA members, if the impacted persons are willing and able to return to service. The 24 states impacted by the decision, in addition to Washington, DC, are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Caolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Further appeals are possible.

Update, April 30, 2024, noon ET: Read our statement, Cuts to AmeriCorps a Major Blow to Nationa's Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs.

Late on Friday, April 25, the AmeriCorps agency (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service) sent notifications terminating nearly $400 million in grant program funding.  This funding supports more than 1,000 local programs and 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, according to America’s Service Commissions (ASC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing and promoting the 52 state service commissions across the United States and territories. The AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA programs are an essential part of the afterschool and summer learning field, with a review of AmeriCorps' 2023 National Service Reports finding AmeriCorps volunteers serving at afterschool and summer learning programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. AmeriCorps members help support students academically and through foundational skill development, as well as assisting with afterschool and summer meals, coordinating STEM and arts activities, and working one-on-one with students in the hours when school is out.

ASC has reported that state service commission managed grant programs—including AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and the Volunteer Generation Fund—appear to be targeted in the grant terminations, with all 50 states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands being notified of grant terminations, and approximately 80% of all AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) programs receiving notices of termination. Some states have had every AmeriCorps State program eliminated. The news last Friday comes just more than a week since the AmeriCorps Agency demobilized the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), sending home volunteers, including some that were expected to work in summer learning programs this summer.

Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant wrote about the importance of AmeriCorps funding to afterschool and summer learning programs last month, and the impact of the funding terminations will be felt especially hard by these programs. State and local afterschool programs from Alaska to Wisconsin have reported that their AmeriCorps grants were terminated on April 25. If your program has been impacted by the AmeriCorps funding changes, please share your experience through our program impact form.

AmeriCorps funding is enacted annually by Congress, and the termination of grant funding was not done due to a lack of compliance. Per federal law, national AmeriCorps priorities are established in the Serve America Act. According to ASC, while the agency may decide which areas to prioritize in its grant competitions, the AmeriCorps agency does not have the authority to terminate grants that are serving the priorities set by Congress in statute and already awarded.

Litigation may be filed soon to pause the AmeriCorps grant terminations, with California Governor Gavin Newsom announcing Friday that the state intends to sue the Trump Administration over the funding termination. At least one Republican, Senator Cassidy of Louisiana, has already voiced concerns about the legality of these terminations. Given that these program cuts will impact all fifty states and hurt rural, suburban, and urban areas, constituents of every Senator will be harmed if the terminations are not reinstated.

Stakeholders and friends of afterschool should show support for AmeriCorps by contacting Members of Congress using the tool by our partners at Voices for National Service.