In a significant legal clash, Attorney General Mayes claimed a pivotal victory against the Trump administration's move to disassemble AmeriCorps. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a court order that effectively halts the administration's actions to terminate nearly 90 percent of the agency's workforce and abruptly end contracts, per an announcement on the Arizona Attorney General's website.
The Trump administration had plans to quickly close down $400 million in AmeriCorps-supported programs, which prompted Mayes to quickly join a coalition made up of 23 attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. They sought to swiftly stop the program closures in plaintiff states with a preliminary injunction. The judge's ruling has now temporarily reinstated over 750 National Civilian Community Corps members and restored programs that were previously terminated.
"AmeriCorps represents the best of public service in this country—from tutoring students in rural and low-income communities to helping seniors stay in their homes. The Trump administration's reckless attempt to dismantle it was not just wrong, it was unlawful," Mayes' statement read. The plaintiff states received relief when the federal judge agreed to their assertion that the Trump administration's actions were against the law due to the lack of advance notice and an opportunity for public comment, which Congress mandates for such major changes. These requirements were apparently ignored by the Trump administration, leading to the court's intervention, as detailed by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
According to the press release from the Arizona Attorney General's office, today's order reinstates crucial AmeriCorps programs in Arizona, including initiatives like NAU's Arizona Teacher Residency Program and Area Agency on Aging's Caring Circles Program, along with support for tutoring low-income students. The court's decision effectively pauses the Trump administration from further dismantling these essential services while litigation continues.
Joining Attorney General Mayes are his counterparts from states across the nation, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, and many others, demonstrating a collective legal front against the proposed reductions to AmeriCorps.
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