FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts
[email protected]
410-576-7009
BALTIMORE, MD (April 29, 2025) — Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today co-led a
coalition of 23 attorneys general—joined by the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania—in
filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps by
abruptly reducing the agency’s workforce by nearly 90%, cancelling its contracts, and closing
$400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. AmeriCorps, an independent federal
agency that engages Americans in meaningful community-based service, provides opportunities
for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities every year. The Trump
administration’s arbitrary cuts during National Service Week will cripple AmeriCorps’ ability to
continue administering its programs and operations.
“President Trump’s unlawful dismantling of AmeriCorps is a direct attack on the communities
that rely on national service to survive and thrive. These reckless cuts will rip vital support away
from our veterans, seniors, students, and families recovering from disaster,” said Attorney
General Brown. “In Maryland alone, programs that educate children, care for the elderly, and
rebuild homes are being wiped out overnight. I will fight this brazen abuse of power in court and
do everything in my power to restore these life-changing services.”
AmeriCorps support national and state community service programs by funding and placing
volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs.
Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps
members nationwide. In Maryland, AmeriCorps members and volunteers serve as public school
teachers across the state; build and rehabilitate homes in Baltimore City; restore and improve
Maryland’s state parks and conservation areas; and provide services to low-income, homeless,
and elderly individuals in rural Western Maryland the Eastern Shore.
After business hours on Friday, April 25, the Trump administration closed more than 20
AmeriCorps programs in Maryland, revoking more than $12 million in funding and directing
members to immediately stop service. Across the entire country, more than 1,000 AmeriCorps
programs were affected. Combined with the placement of 85% of AmeriCorps staff on
administrative leave, notices of Reductions in Force, and the termination of AmeriCorps’
National Civilian Community Corps, these actions reflect a decision to dismantle the agency.
In the complaint today, Attorney General Brown and a multistate coalition argue that by
dismantling AmeriCorps, the Trump administration is effectively ending states’ abilities to
support AmeriCorps programs within their borders—the few remaining staff members at
AmeriCorps will not be able to timely process grants and ensure the flow of funds to states,
which will harm organizations and agencies that receive these grants.
The coalition establishes that the Trump administration has acted unlawfully in its gutting of
AmeriCorps, violating both the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers
under the U.S. Constitution. Congress created AmeriCorps and the programs it administers, 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
established by Congress, the Trump administration has exceeded its authority under law.
In Maryland, AmeriCorps provided over $21 million in federal funding and education awards
last year, supporting 4,949 members serving across the state. The Governor's Commission on
Service and Volunteerism managed $6.2 million that funded 25 critical service programs
addressing needs of immigrants through Maryland Refugee Corps, students through Maryland
Reading Corps and Teach for America, and elderly residents through various community
services. Salisbury University’s ShoreCorps, Frostburg's ASTAR program, and the Maryland
Conservation Corps provide essential services to underserved communities, at-risk youth, and
environmental education to thousands of Marylanders. On Friday, Maryland was notified that
Frostburg’s ASTAR program and the Maryland Conservation Corps program were terminated.
These unlawful cuts, and the broader dismantling of AmeriCorps, will eliminate numerous and
vital services that Marylanders rely on.
Joining the lawsuit, led by Attorney General Brown along with the attorneys general of
California, Colorado, and Delaware, are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, the
District of Colombia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont,
Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
###