Oregon and Coalition Halt Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle AmeriCorps and Restore $184 Million

Just before the Trump administration’s White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was due to file a response to a multi-state coalition’s lawsuit aimed at ending the agency’s gutting of AmeriCorps by blocking funding, the agency agreed to release over $184 million to the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.

Lawsuit Halts $184 Million Cut to AmeriCorps Service Programs

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield confirmed that the state prevailed in preserving funding for AmeriCorps yesterday, after OMB’s threat to the survival of AmeriCorps programs and the well-being of those who depend on them by cutting their funding.

In April, Oregon joined a 25-state coalition in a lawsuit to stop Trump’s order shutting down AmeriCorps Volunteer Service. The lawsuit was in response to the administration’s plans to eliminate almost 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs.

Trump’s attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps was halted by a preliminary injunction won by Oregon and the coalition of states on June 5. The injunction reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that had been unlawfully canceled and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking.

However, despite the order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for outstanding service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, as well as many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants.

The coalition filed an amended lawsuit on July 23, challenging OMB’s attempt to gut AmeriCorps programs and a further motion for a preliminary injunction on August 8, asking the court for an order to stop OMB from withholding the relevant funds.

OMB agreed to fully release the previously withheld funds yesterday, in response to the requirement to file their defense papers, and informed the Court that OMB would release all withheld AmeriCorps funds.

Attorney General Rayfield said, “This is a huge victory for Oregonians.”

AmeriCorps will distribute the $184 million, which will now be released to programs nationwide, as quickly as possible.

Rayfield also confirmed that his office has protected over $4 billion in federal dollars that Oregonians are relying on so far – and will continue to fight every day to make sure Oregon communities receive the funds Congress has allocated.