American Climate Corps Bids Farewell: What Was Its Purpose?

Giorgio Zampaglione enjoyed his daily commute from Mount Shasta into the northern California forests last summer, relishing the play of light through trees. His lunchtime breaks with fellow crew members were spent deep in the woods, away from cell service, as they participated in the new Forest Corps program. Their objective was clear: to mitigate fire risks by thinning dense thickets of manzanita near campsites and roads.

“The Forest Service has been thrilled with our work,” Zampaglione stated, noting that their contributions drastically reduced timelines for essential tasks. “Without you guys, this work would have taken months,” they would say.

At 27, Zampaglione’s background in environmental data analysis didn’t quell his desire for hands-on work. His search led him to the Forest Corps through a YouTube ad, unaware that he had joined the first class of the American Climate Corps, initiated by President Biden to engage youth in jobs aimed at reducing carbon emissions and safeguarding communities from weather-related disasters. However, this program now faces an uncertain future as the Biden administration quietly winds down the initiative ahead of the upcoming presidential transition.

Dana Fisher, a professor at American University, mentioned the apparent decision to discontinue the Climate Corps, stating, “The people responsible for coordinating it are leaving office, and before departing, they are shutting it all down.” With the impending Trump administration, programs labeled with “climate” may soon come under scrutiny.

Republicans, particularly Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have consistently criticized the Climate Corps, questioning its necessity and labeling it as a “made-up government work program” serving mainly young activists. Yet, for now, the thousands of members across the country are secure in their positions. Surprisingly, the American Climate Corps operated as a loose network rather than a large-scale government employment initiative, drawing from existing roles within nonprofits and government agencies.

Robert Godfried, the Maryland Climate Corps program manager, remarked on the ambiguous nature of the Climate Corps. “People label it as the American Climate Corps, but the meaning is unclear,” he indicated.

While some funding guarantees remain in place, such as the $15 million allocated to the Forest Corps from the U.S. Forest Service, federal budget cuts loom under the leadership of Trump, who has announced significant reductions in governmental spending. “The big challenge,” Fisher cautioned, “is ensuring funding for these federal programs while navigating restrictions on the term ‘climate.’”

The American Climate Corps was envisioned as a revival of New Deal-era programs. Inspired by Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, Biden’s initial aim was to create substantial employment opportunities for youth engaged in environmental conservation. During his presidential campaign, Biden sought to resonate with progressive communities, a goal that fueled calls for a climate corps.

Despite a push for funding, the program’s momentum waned as the labor market shifted, and opportunities for employment grew after the pandemic. Though the House passed a bill funding the Climate Corps, it ultimately faltered in the Senate. Any hope for its resurrection dimmed with the Republican takeover of the House in early 2023.

However, in a surprising turn, the Biden administration announced the American Climate Corps would launch, albeit on a reduced scale, aiming to create 20,000 jobs instead of the initial 300,000. This decision seemed to appease young voters somewhat disillusioned by Biden’s environmental policies.

Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, clarified that no new funds had been allocated for the Climate Corps. “There are no new appropriated dollars,” he confirmed. Thus, existing programs were consolidated under the American Climate Corps brand.

Despite funding challenges, the initiative managed to source support from various foundations, including a $500,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation. The network expedited job recruitment by streamlining existing climate programs under the American Climate Corps umbrella.

The introduction of the Climate Corps drew attention to opportunities for paid volunteer work in climate action, enabling efforts such as energy-efficient project implementation and educational outreach regarding climate change. Encouragingly, this visibility has attracted more applicants for existing roles, with the Forest Corps receiving 800 applications for just 80 positions.

While the core of the Climate Corps initiative may quickly dissolve under Trump’s administration, its legacy of initiatives may endure. Program leaders see value in conservation work divorced from partisan branding. “Programs based on tree planting and conservation don’t have to be political,” Godfried noted.

While the ambitious vision of a revival reminiscent of New Deal-style climate jobs has not come to fruition, the initiative has nonetheless sparked interest and engagement across many states. State-level efforts, like those in Maryland and California, are drawing from local funding while seeking to address climate resilience needs. The need for these services remains pressing. “Climate shocks are going to come, and they’re going to come with increasing frequency,” Fisher warned. “We need communities prepared and able to respond.”