Last year, David Dreier and David Price urged Congress not to gut AmeriCorps. We got a reminder of its importance when its volunteers took part in the recovery from the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
Now, as AP reports, DOGE is gutting it outside the law.
AmeriCorps placed most staff members on administrative leave with pay this week, effective immediately, according to a staff member and an internal memo shared with The Associated Press.
The memo from AmeriCorps’ interim director told staff that the administrative leave would remain in effect until future notice. It was sent Wednesday, the day after the agency’s National Civilian Community Corps members were informed that they would be discharged from their service terms early. The dismissal of young volunteers came as the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency make cuts to government workforce and services.
About 15% of the agency’s staff remained active, according to an AmeriCorps staff member who provided the internal communications to the AP on condition of anonymity because the staff member was not authorized to do so. AmeriCorps employs more than 500 full-time federal workers and has an operating budget of roughly $1 billion.