On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that as the Trump Administration dismantles the AmeriCorps service program, California will both challenge the illegal action in court and accelerate recruitment for the California Service Corps program — already the largest service corps in the nation, surpassing the size of the Peace Corps.

“We’ve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans. We will sue to stop this,” said Newsom.

When the devastating fires struck Los Angeles earlier this year, AmeriCorps members were on the ground, distributing supplies and supporting families.

As recently as this week, AmeriCorps members were on the ground assisting in recovery. The agency’s shutdown hamstrings these efforts.

In Lake County, AmeriCorps members assist with educational programs in the schools, take part in food drives, and have participated in projects benefiting the Clear Lake State Park, the Lake County Fire Protection District, Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and the Lake County Land Trust. In the case of the Land Trust, they built a boardwalk at the Rodman Preserve near Upper Lake.

“DOGE’s actions aren’t about making government work better — it’s about making communities weaker,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “These actions will dismantle vital lifelines in communities across California. AmeriCorps members are out in the field teaching children to read, supporting seniors and helping families recover after disasters. AmeriCorps is not bureaucracy; it’s boots on the ground.”

California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, consisting of four paid service programs:

• #CaliforniansForAll College Corps.
• California Climate Action Corps.
• Youth Service Corps.
• AmeriCorps California.

Combined, it is a force larger than the Peace Corps and is mobilized at a time when California is addressing post-pandemic academic recovery, rebuilding from the LA fires and planning for the future of the state’s workforce.

The federal government provides more than half of the funding for California Climate Action Corps and about 5% of College Corps, while the state fully funds the Youth Service Corps.

In the 2023-24 service year, 6,264 AmeriCorps members in California:

• Provided 4,397,674 hours of service.
• Tutored/mentored 73,833 students.
• Supported 17,000 foster youth with education and employment.
• Planted 39,288 trees.
• Members helped 26,000 households impacted by the LA fires and packed 21,000 food boxes.