Americorps has put 85% of its staff on administrative leave ahead of planned job cuts, the lawsuit says. The agency has also allegedly slashed its National Civilian Community Corps, which sends volunteers to work on conservation, natural disaster response and other projects, and cut hundreds of millions in grants, covering 41% of the agency's budget.
"If the Defendants' actions are permitted to stand despite their statutory and constitutional defects, then the gutting of AmeriCorps will inflict immediate and irreparable harms on the Plaintiff States, their residents, and the public at large," reads the lawsuit, which was filed in Maryland federal court and led by California, Colorado, Delaware and Maryland.
Americorps' inspector general said in November the agency "has been unable to produce auditable financial statements for the last eight years," and recommended changes to the agency's financial practices.
The Americorps grants targeted to be eliminated by the Trump administration amount to nearly $400 million, hitting volunteer programs in all 50 states, according to the nonprofit America's Service Commissions.
"Thousands of people who have steadfastly dedicated their lives to serving their country through AmeriCorps are finding their livelihoods suddenly thrown into jeopardy, and hundreds of communities are losing critical services they rely on," ASC CEO Kaira Esgate said.
"These actions by President Trump and Elon Musk not only threaten our funding – they vandalize our values. We're going to fight to stop them," California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement about the AmeriCorps cuts.
Newsom noted that California has already been recruiting for its own California Service Corps program, a pool of volunteers that he says is now larger than the Peace Corps.
"Service sits at the very core of who we are as Americans. California is suing the Trump administration to defend thousands of hardworking service members and the communities they serve," Newsom said.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Dozens of states sue over Trump administration's cuts to Americorps )
Also on site :