Attorney General Kwame Raoul is spearheading an amended lawsuit along with a coalition of 23 attorneys general, joined by the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, against the Trump administration's withholding of funds from AmeriCorps, the national volunteer public service organization. According to a statement released by Raoul, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been accused of defying a court order by not distributing tens of millions of dollars for service programs that support veterans, children, the environment, and community improvement.
Won in June, the coalition previously secured a court order that restored many AmeriCorps programs and blocked future cancelations without formal rulemaking. Despite this victory, continued withholding of funds by the OMB threatens the well-being of people relying on AmeriCorps initiatives. This offensive move by the Administration has shaken schools and food banks, among other essential services, specifically impacting Illinoisans. "The Trump administration is defying a court order with its ongoing, callous attack on an agency that represents the best in America," warned Raoul, as his office pushes back against the federal government's actions.
AmeriCorps provides meaningful opportunities for over 200,000 Americans each year and allocates funding to national and state programs addressing community needs like education, health, and poverty. Raoul's office pointed out that organizations rely on AmeriCorps for resources to recruit, place, and oversee volunteers. The withholding of funds impacts crucial programs such as the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program, which were earmarked for tens of millions of dollars to support low-income seniors partnering with children or aiding other seniors in need of companionship and care.
The lawsuit further claims that the administration has acted unlawfully by withholding funds, asserting a violation of both the Administrative Procedure Act and the separation of powers as dictated by the U.S. Constitution. Already decided by Congress, these appropriated AmeriCorps funds have been caught in the crosshairs of a bureaucratic standoff. "Neither OMB nor AmeriCorps have authority to defy Congress by refusing to distribute funds to worthy service programs," Raoul stated in defiance.
The coalition joining Raoul represents a wide geographic and political spectrum, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Their collective action speaks to a shared concern over the Trump administration's handling of AmeriCorps funding, an issue that resonates with diverse communities across the nation whose everyday realities depend on the services provided by AmeriCorps volunteers.
