The state of California has joined nearly two dozen other states in suing the Trump administration over the efforts of the so-called Department of Government Efficient, or DOGE, to dismantle AmeriCorps — the federal agency vital to supporting volunteer and service efforts in California and across the country.

DOGE has taken action to terminate AmeriCorps grants and dismantle the agency through 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 addresses the country’s educational, public safety and environmental needs.

Every year, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities.

AmeriCorp’s work in Lake County has included work in schools, food drives, and projects with parks, nonprofits and local agencies.

“Service sits at the very core of who we are as Americans,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is suing the Trump administration to defend thousands of hardworking service members and the communities they serve. These actions by President Trump and Elon Musk not only threaten our funding — they vandalize our values. We’re going to fight to stop them.”

In the complaint filed on Tuesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta 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 creations of Congress, the Trump Administration has violated the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed, the lawsuit alleges.

“AmeriCorps volunteers bring out the best in America and in our communities. By abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce and volunteers, DOGE is dismantling AmeriCorps without any concern for the thousands of people who are ready and eager to serve their country — or for those whose communities are stronger because of this public service,” said Attorney General Bonta. “In California, AmeriCorps volunteers build affordable housing, clean up our environment, and address food insecurity in communities across our state. California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump Administration and DOGE accountable to the law — and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”

AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve their communities and by awarding grants to local and national organizations and agencies which use funding to address critical community 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 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 25, California received notice from the federal government of termination of its AmeriCorps grant programs which support volunteer and service efforts. Grant cancellations and program termination notices were sent to approximately 1,031 programs nationwide.

“DOGE isn’t just cutting jobs — they’re attacking the very people who keep California strong,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “They’re coming after the service members who responded to the LA fires, the tutors helping our kids and the young leaders caring for our seniors. It’s outrageous, it’s illegal and we won’t back down. In California, we’re not just defending service — we’re strengthening it. California is doubling down, and we trust the courts will strike this down and uphold the values we fight for every day.”

As the federal government cuts AmeriCorps programs, officials said the state is recruiting for the California Service Corps program — already the largest service corps in the nation, surpassing the size of the Peace Corps.

AmeriCorp’s California impact

AmeriCorps funds support California public agencies and nonprofits that provide critical services to low-income communities.

In 2024, at least 6,150 California members served at at least 1,200 locations, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

AmeriCorps invested more than $133 million in federal funding to California last year to support cost-effective community solutions, working with local partners on the ground to help communities, who most intimately understand their needs, tackle their toughest challenges.

When the devastating fires struck Los Angeles earlier this year, AmeriCorps members were on the ground, distributing supplies and supporting families. The agency’s shutdown ends these efforts.

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 and AmeriCorps California.

Combined, the California Service Corps 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.

In the 2023-24 service year, 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.

In bringing Tuesday’s lawsuit Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general of Maryland, Delaware, and Colorado lead the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, 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.