Judge blocks Trump cuts to AmeriCorps in MD, 23 states

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A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps, ordering the agency to reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in terminated grants and bring back thousands of service members across about two dozen states.

Maryland co-led a Democratic coalition of 24 states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration after officials abruptly enacted plans to terminate most of the AmeriCorps workforce, cancel contracts and close hundreds of millions of dollars worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs.

U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman on Thursday granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction blocking the agency’s grant cancellations and termination of corps members. The ruling, though, only applies in the states that sued.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said Thursday that the ruling safeguards the “life-changing services” that AmeriCorps programs provide, which in Maryland include educating students, preserving parks and providing meals for families, among other services.

“As this case continues, I will do everything in my power to defend these essential programs from the Trump administration’s unlawful and reckless cuts,” Brown said in a statement.

Boardman found that the administration acted unlawfully in ignoring a requirement from Congress that it provide advance notice and a chance for comment on any major changes to AmeriCorps services, according to the attorney general’s office.

Brown said that the order prevents the Trump administration from terminating “vital” AmeriCorps programs in Maryland, including Frostburg State University’s ASTAR program, which provides services to food pantries, public schools and Special Olympics Maryland, while litigation continues.

In Maryland last year, AmeriCorps provided more than $21 million to support 5,000 volunteers.

The suing states accused the administration’s cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency of reneging on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National program, which was budgeted $557 million in congressionally approved funding this year.

Boardman also said all AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members that were discharged from their service terms early should be reinstated, if they are willing and able to return.

But Boardman allowed the 30-year-old federal agency for volunteer service to proceed with its reduction in force, denying the states’ request to restore the majority of staff that were put on administrative leave in April. The agency employs more than 500 full-time federal workers and has an operating budget of roughly $1 billion.

AmeriCorps did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

AmeriCorps argued in court filings that a temporary block on the agency’s actions as the lawsuit proceeds would disrupt efforts to comply with Trump’s executive order creating DOGE and to “act as responsible stewards of public funds,” according to court filings.

Despite bipartisan support, AmeriCorps has long been a target of critics who decry bloat, inefficiencies and misuse of funds.

“President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch,” Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary, previously said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed.

The lawsuit was filed by officials in Maryland, Delaware, California, Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)