In a decisive response to what they call a disregard for the Constitution, a coalition of 25 states, helmed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. This action, reported by the Illinois Attorney General's office, arises from the administration's sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps, an initiative that has engaged millions in service to their communities since its inception in 1993. The recent executive order issued by the administration has put an immediate halt to AmeriCorps' operations by placing 85% of its workforce on administrative leave and canceling vital grants.
Attorney General Raoul didn't mince words when he announced, "The gutting of AmeriCorps is the latest example of the Trump administration's disregard for the Constitution to achieve their political goals." He went on to highlight the broad impact these cuts will have, emphasizing AmeriCorps' role in aiding veterans and children and protecting the environment. As detailed in an announcement by the Illinois Attorney General, the lawsuit aims to confront the administration's actions that are said to violate both the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution's separation of powers.
The elimination of AmeriCorps programs profoundly affects state operations, with Illinois alone witnessing the termination of 28 programs and approximately 632 workers or volunteers directly impacted. This sudden move has left community projects and services, traditionally supported by AmeriCorps, in abrupt disarray. The Trump administration's executive order called for every federal agency to unquestionably plan to reduce the size of their workforces, an act that has resulted in severe and immediate cutbacks to AmeriCorps' grant administration and personnel.
In his statement, Raoul asserted, "I will continue to fight back against these illegal and meritless decisions that will have real negative consequences across our country." It is this sentiment that unites the 25 states in action, a formidable coalition joined by the likes of California, New York, and Washington. These participants argue that by slashing at the roots of Americorps, impacting the ability of states to properly support community initiatives, the administration has overstepped its bounds, infringing on congressional authority and undermining the executive's duty to uphold the law.
With the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, and several others in the union, the filing in federal court serves as a marker of resistance against what is considered an unlawful evisceration of a national service organization. Their complaint holds at its core the conviction that AmeriCorps, as a creature of Congress, cannot be dismantled by the executive branch without violating fundamental principles of governance. These states, with Raoul at the forefront, seek to ensure that the programs established under AmeriCorps continue to function, sustaining the mission that has patriotically served communities for decades.
