Judge Compels Trump Administration to Reinstate AmeriCorps Services Across 24 States

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore significant AmeriCorps grant funding, impacting thousands of service members across 24 states and Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued an 86-page ruling on Thursday in Maryland, asserting that the administration’s actions to terminate funding and compel corps members to return home violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

The judge emphasized that the agency’s appropriation bill mandates public notice and an opportunity for comment before major changes can be made. “The catalyst for the notice-and-comment requirement was to prevent AmeriCorps from pulling the rug out from under volunteer organizations and the communities they serve,” she noted, highlighting the detrimental impact of the administration’s actions.

Despite her ruling, Judge Boardman did not prevent the administration from placing a significant portion of the agency’s staff on administrative leave, a precursor to potential mass firings. The lawsuit that prompted her decision was filed by officials from the affected states, challenging attempts to dismantle the 30-year-old agency that supports around 200,000 corps members nationwide.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes welcomed the ruling, stating it would safeguard programs in Arizona, such as tutoring for low-income students and social services for older adults. “This court order is a victory for Arizonans and for every community that relies on AmeriCorps members to fill vital service gaps,” he affirmed.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown praised the AmeriCorps program for its dedicated public servants who deliver essential services. He vowed to defend these critical programs against the Trump administration’s proposed cuts, deeming them unlawful and reckless.

On April 16, Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, the interim agency head, had already placed 85% of AmeriCorps employees on administrative leave and issued reduction-in-force notices. Volunteers were instructed to return home prematurely, and grants to state and local nonprofits were revoked, disrupting over 1,000 programs, including those addressing opioid addiction and supporting veterans.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser criticized the administration’s actions at a press conference, suggesting that if the president disagrees with the law, he should pursue changes through Congress. “Is nothing sacred? Is nothing worth protecting?” he questioned.

State officials argued that the agency acted capriciously by shutting down programs without due notice or consideration. Judge Boardman did find that while the states lacked standing to contest staff terminations, they were likely to prevail on their APA claim due to the agency’s failure to follow necessary congressional procedures.

The ruling issues a preliminary injunction to prevent AmeriCorps from closing programs or removing corps members in the states involved in the lawsuit. The states affected include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as Kentucky and Pennsylvania.