New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a coalition of attorneys general from 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal action aims to halt the dismantling of AmeriCorps, a program that organizes over 200,000 volunteers nationally to provide essential services in communities, including disaster relief and veteran services. Attorney General James criticized the administration's move as "illegal" and detrimental to civic engagement and public service.
The lawsuit was prompted by the Trump administration's recent actions, which have involved placing countless AmeriCorps staff on administrative leave and canceling around 80 percent of the program's grants. Reports suggest a significant workforce reduction, and Attorney General James and her colleagues are seeking a court order to prevent these measures, arguing they violate the law.
Established in 1993, AmeriCorps supports numerous programs across the United States. For the current fiscal year, Congress allocated over $1.2 billion for its operations. In New York alone, more than $30 million in grants was abruptly terminated, affecting 1,200 AmeriCorps members. These cuts have put programs such as Empire State Service Corps and various community health and education initiatives at risk.
The Trump administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency, has initiated extensive staff reductions within AmeriCorps, jeopardizing essential funding for programs nationwide. The coalition claims that these actions are unconstitutional and violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
Attorney General James is joined in this legal action by her counterparts in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, and others, as well as the District of Columbia and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.