Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has joined a lawsuit against an executive order that terminated AmeriCorps grants and significantly reduced the agency's workforce. The executive order, which cut down the workforce by 85%, is said to have put an end to a program involving over 200,000 Americans serving their communities. The lawsuit is supported by a coalition of 23 attorneys general along with the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
AmeriCorps, an independent federal agency, engages Americans in public service focusing on education, public safety, and environmental needs. It plays a crucial role in connecting veterans to services, combating the opioid epidemic, assisting older individuals, and helping rebuild communities post-disasters while benefiting millions of Americans' well-being.
Attorney General Rayfield expressed concerns, stating, “AmeriCorps represents the best of what it means to be an American: service, sacrifice, and community. Gutting this critical work doesn’t just eliminate jobs or opportunities – it tears at the fabric of civic engagement and disproportionately harms vulnerable communities. The president cannot just wipe out public programs funded by public dollars on a whim.”
In February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order to reduce workforce sizes across federal agencies. Consequently, AmeriCorps placed 85% of its workforce on administrative leave, notifying them of potential terminations by June 24.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, contends that the Trump Administration's abrupt actions are effectively closing down AmeriCorps, hindering states' capabilities to support essential programs. The coalition argues that the administration's actions violated the Administrative Procedures Act and the U.S. Constitution's separation of powers. They assert that it's beyond the President's authority to disable AmeriCorps' operations that are backed by Congress.
Attorney General Rayfield is joined by his counterparts from Maryland, Delaware, California, and other states, along with Kentucky and Pennsylvania, in challenging these measures.