Attorney General Neronha joins lawsuit challenging Trump Administration’s dismantling of AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps volunteers address critical local needs, create public good, foster belonging

From a press release:

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, as part of a multistate coalition, today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s termination of AmeriCorps grants and the dismantling of the agency though an 85% reduction of its workforce, effectively ending the agency’s ability to continue administering the programs, operations, and funding that make its important work possible.

AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that addresses the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs. Every year, the agency provides more than 200,000 Americans opportunities to serve their communities.

“This President has never acted selflessly in his entire life, and so it should come as no surprise that he is attempting to shutter an independent federal agency that has provided meaningful public service opportunities and extraordinary value for millions of Americans for many, many years,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Through its volunteer and grant programs, AmeriCorps and its members have supported our most vulnerable Americans, including veterans, older adults, underprivileged children, and those dealing with unexpected suffering from illness and natural disaster. AmeriCorps values are American values. And try as they may, we won’t let them be destroyed.”

AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve communities and awarding grants to local and national organizations and agencies that use funding to address critical community needs. These organizations and agencies use AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide. AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved millions of Americans’ physical and mental wellbeing.

In early February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force. Since then, AmeriCorps has immediately placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025.

On April 25, Rhode Island received notice from the federal government of terminating its AmeriCorps grant programs, which support volunteer and service efforts.

In the complaint today, the multistate coalition argues that by abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce, the Trump Administration is effectively shuttering the national volunteer agency and ending states’ abilities to support AmeriCorps programs within their borders.

The coalition establishes that the Trump Administration has acted unlawfully in gutting AmeriCorps, violating the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the United States Constitution. Congress has created AmeriCorps and its programs, and the President cannot incapacitate the agency’s ability to administer appropriated grants or carry out statutorily assigned duties. Further, by dismantling AmeriCorps and its programs, which are products of Congress, the Trump Administration has violated the Executive Branch’s obligation to ensure the law is faithfully executed.

In Rhode Island, AmeriCorps programs are administered and supported by ServeRI and play a crucial role in community development. Last year, more than 2,900 Americans united to meet local needs and strengthen neighborhoods with AmeriCorps, investing more than $6.7 million in federal funding. These service members work across Rhode Island at more than 100 locations—supporting schools, food banks, homeless shelters, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other essential community institutions. Their efforts fortify community resilience and generate over $2.6 million in additional local resources from businesses, foundations, public agencies, and other sources in Rhode Island.

Each year, ServeRI-sponsored AmeriCorps members reach 15,000 students as classroom teachers and afterschool instructors focused on attendance, math, reading, health, and environmental science. ServeRI-sponsored AmeriCorps members also help address housing needs in the state, connecting 2,500 Rhode Islanders to $1 million in housing, energy, and food assistance. ServeRI also helps protect the state’s environmental interests, with AmeriCorps members managing an additional 700 volunteers for public land and Narragansett Bay service projects. As of 2019, Rhode Island ranks seventh among states for per capita AmeriCorps participation, and Providence ranks second among small cities.

ServeRI receives and manages Prime Grants from AmeriCorps, awards and disburses subgrants from the Primes, monitors subgrantees for performance and compliance with grant requirements, provides training and technical assistance for subgrantees, and functions as a liaison between AmeriCorps and subgrantees. Subgrantees use the funds they receive from ServeRI to run programs that benefit Rhode Islanders.

Currently, ServeRI manages grants for 10 subgrantees, including Children’s Friend and Service, Highlander Charter School, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, Refugee Youth Solidarity through Education, Save The Bay, Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, Teach for America, TerraCorps, and Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation. Additionally, AmeriCorps National multistate grant recipients operating in consultation with ServeRI in Rhode Island include but are not limited to City Year Providence, Epilepsy Foundation New England, Generation Teach, Local Initiative Support Corporation, and Relay Graduate School of Education.

In filing today’s lawsuit Attorney General Neronha joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.