Gov. Newsom confirms: California is going to sue the Trump admin for ending AmeriCorps grant programs
Sacramento, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the state’s intention to sue the federal government’s decision to end AmeriCorps grant programs. This legal battle addresses what Newsom has called flagrant neglect of volunteer and service activities vital to the recovery of the state and environmental projects.
Newsom’s government got a shocking notice from the feds recently announcing the end of AmeriCorps financing, which has been important in supporting an array of service initiatives around California.
In his response, Governor Newsom did not mince words, stating, “The federal government is giving the middle finger to service. We will serve them with a lawsuit.”
This drastic move by the federal government comes at a time when California’s reliance on AmeriCorps volunteers is at an all-time high. AmeriCorps members on the ground earlier this year, when devastating wildfires swept Los Angeles, were instrumental in distributing essential items and supporting impacted families. The unexpected stop of the AmeriCorps program endangers to undermine these fundamental initiatives.
Given the federal cuts, Governor Newsom also announced an intense effort to speed up California Service Corps recruiting, now the biggest service corps in the country—even larger than the Peace Corps. The California Service Corps includes four main projects: AmeriCorps California, Youth Service Corps, California Climate Action Corps, and the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. These initiatives together provide a strong network that not only helps environmental and disaster response activities throughout the state but also handles post-pandemic academic rehabilitation and workforce planning.
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The 6,264 AmeriCorps members in California have overwhelmingly backed the state’s social and environmental initiatives in the 2023–24 service year alone. They have planted 39,288 trees, mentored 73,833 students, provided 17,000 foster children with job and educational opportunities over 4.3 million hours of service, and supported 17,000 foster youngsters with education and work prospects. These members have also been extremely helpful in packing 21,000 food boxes for distribution and in helping 26,000 families during the LA fires.
The funding system for various initiatives shows how much the federal cuts might affect them. About 5% of the money for the College Corps also comes from federal sources; the California Climate Action Corps gets more than half of its support from the federal government. The state completely funds the Youth Service Corps, hence stressing the different origin of support sustaining these projects.
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Governor Newsom’s decision to legally challenge the federal government is not only about obtaining the required money but also a stand to defend a valued infrastructure that drives thousands of Californians in service to their communities and the environment. The governor’s office underlines as the lawsuit preparations start that this legal action is essential to guarantee that, whatever the difficulties federal rulings create, service and volunteers in California will keep growing.
