Attorney General Ellison joins lawsuit challenging Trump Administration’s dismantling of national volunteer public service agency, AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps volunteers address critical local needs, create public good, foster belonging
April 29, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) – Attorney General Ellison today, as part of a multistate coalition, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s termination of AmeriCorps grants and the dismantling of the agency though an 85% reduction of its workforce, effectively ending the agency’s ability to continue administering the programs, operations, and funding that make its important work possible. AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly address the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs — every year, the agency provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities.
“AmeriCorps is a program dedicated to public service and meeting the needs of individual communities across our state and country,” said Attorney General Ellison. “AmeriCorps members in Minnesota tutor students in reading and math, help build affordable housing, teach digital literacy to Minnesotans to improve their economic opportunities, and so much more. The work done by AmeriCorps is an outstanding example of the American government delivering for Minnesotans and I will not sit back and allow Donald Trump to dismantle this essential agency.”
Background
AmeriCorps support national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve communities and by awarding grants to local and national organizations and agencies which use funding to address critical needs. These organizations and agencies use AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide. AmeriCorps members and volunteers have connected veterans to essential services, fought the opioid epidemic, helped older adults age with dignity, rebuilt communities after disasters, and improved the physical and mental well-being of millions of Americans.
In early February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate in large-scale reductions in force. Since then, AmeriCorps has placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave immediately and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025.
On April 25th, Minnesota received notice from the federal government of termination of its AmeriCorps grant programs which support volunteer and service effort.
Lawsuit
In the complaint today, Attorney General Ellison and a multistate coalition argue that by abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce, the Trump Administration is effectively shuttering the national volunteer agency and ending states’ abilities to support AmeriCorps programs within their borders.The coalition establishes that the Trump Administration has acted unlawfully in its gutting of AmeriCorps, violating both the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. Congress has created AmeriCorps and the programs it administers, and the President cannot incapacitate the agency’s ability to administer appropriated grants or carry out statutorily assigned duties. Further, by dismantling AmeriCorps and its programs, which are creatures of Congress, The Trump Administration’s has violated the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed.
Minnesota Impact
AmeriCorps has over 14,000 volunteers and members in Minnesota who serve their communities at over 2,100 service locations across the state. They work at food banks, homeless shelters, faith-based organizations, and more. Some of the projects undertaken by AmeriCorps members in Minnesota include tutoring students who are struggling academically, teaching digital literacy skills to low-income Minnesotans to help them find greater economic opportunities, and working with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing.
In bringing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Ellison joins the attorneys general of Maryland, Delaware, California, Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
