Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a major legal victory on Friday, Aug. 29, preventing the Trump Administration from withholding more than $184 million in AmeriCorps funding that supports community service programs across the nation.
The decision followed months of litigation brought by Campbell and a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, who argued that the administration’s funding freeze threatened to dismantle critical national service programs.
Legal Challenge Restores Service Programs
Earlier this year, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to reduce their workforces. AmeriCorps, the federal agency dedicated to national service and volunteerism, responded by placing 85% of its staff on administrative leave and notifying employees of impending terminations. At least $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs were abruptly cancelled.
In June, Campbell filed suit challenging the cuts. A federal court issued a preliminary injunction, restoring hundreds of unlawfully cancelled AmeriCorps programs and barring further reductions without formal rulemaking.
Despite the ruling, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) continued to withhold $184 million earmarked for AmeriCorps programs, including those serving seniors, low-income communities, and disaster recovery efforts. Campbell and her coalition filed an amended complaint in July, adding OMB as a defendant and seeking a second injunction.
On August 28, facing court deadlines, the administration informed the court that OMB would release the funds. AmeriCorps has since confirmed the money will be distributed “as quickly as possible” to affected programs.
Impact on Massachusetts and Beyond
Massachusetts received over $23 million in AmeriCorps funding for fiscal year 2024, but several programs continued to face uncertainty during the funding freeze. Among those affected were:
- Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program ($400,000 request)
- Springfield College AmeriCorps Program ($615,739 request)
- College Advising Corps at Boston University ($899,875 request)
- Jumpstart for Young Children ($2,060,408 request)
- TerraCorps ($1,000,000 request)
AG Campbell emphasized that preserving AmeriCorps funding was critical to protecting jobs and services that improve education, health care, environmental protection, and disaster relief efforts.
“AmeriCorps is the epitome of public service and civic engagement,” Campbell said, adding that her office “won’t stop fighting to hold the federal government accountable when they harm our residents.”
National Service at Stake
AmeriCorps engages more than 200,000 Americans annually in service initiatives that connect veterans to essential services, combat the opioid crisis, assist older adults, rebuild communities after natural disasters, and strengthen educational outcomes.
Legal experts note that this case highlights the tension between presidential executive authority and statutory funding obligations.
While presidents may order workforce reductions, independent agencies such as AmeriCorps must comply with federal appropriations laws requiring disbursal of funds as allocated by Congress.
