As part of a sweeping plan to shrink the federal government, the Trump administration has placed roughly 75% of AmeriCorps’ full-time staff on administrative leave. According to an internal source, 535 of the agency’s 700 employees were sidelined, and \$250 million in contracts were terminated. The move follows the administration’s broader efforts to overhaul or eliminate programs deemed inefficient or ideologically driven, including initiatives under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps volunteers—young adults serving in community-based projects—were pulled from the field ahead of the staffing cuts. The White House has said AmeriCorps will continue, but operations will restart under a restructured model. Founded in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, AmeriCorps has faced mounting scrutiny over its finances and performance. The agency has failed eight consecutive audits, with the latest report from its inspector general citing an inability to detect fraud and dozens of unresolved recommendations.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, blasted the agency for what he called chronic mismanagement of over \$1 billion in taxpayer funds annually. He criticized AmeriCorps’ focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate programs, arguing the agency should be on the “chopping block.” “Every year they promise reforms, and every year we see no real change,” Owens said. “It’s time to admit this is a failed program that needs a complete overhaul or elimination.” The administration has not confirmed whether the cuts will be permanent.
