LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today, as part of a multistate coalition, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s termination of AmeriCorps (PDF) grants and the dismantling of 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, the agency provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities. 

“The President and his administration’s ongoing disregard for the rule of law is once again on full display in their attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps,” Nessel said. “By canceling grants and slashing AmeriCorps’ workforce, the administration is illegally undercutting a Congressionally established and funded independent agency, while harming communities across Michigan. In just one year, AmeriCorps members in our state provided academic support to over 63,000 students, helped nearly 18,000 access health services, and restored hundreds of acres of public land. Gutting this program not only violates the law but deprives our communities of vital services.” 

BACKGROUND
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by providing opportunities for Americans to serve 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 effective immediately and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24, 2025.

On April 25th, the State of Michigan received notice from the federal government of termination of its AmeriCorps grant programs, which support volunteer and service efforts.  

LAWSUIT
In the complaint today, Attorney General Nessel 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.

MICHIGAN IMPACTS
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) received approximately $18 million in grants in 2024 from AmeriCorps, supporting thousands of volunteers across the State. During the 2023-2024 service year, 1,052 AmeriCorps members contributed 618,631 hours of service through MCSC programs. Their efforts: 

• Improved 362 acres of parks and public lands;
• Helped 17,794 individuals receive health services;
• Provided 63,520 youth with academic support;
• Supported crime reduction services to 11 precincts in Detroit; and
• Strengthened 76 organizations through capacity-building services.  

These lawsuits have so far recouped likely millions of dollars on behalf of the State, including more than $100 million in FEMA funds owed to Michigan State Police for emergency use and hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to reinforce school safety measures and combat infectious diseases. Judges have ordered the Administration to unfreeze federal funding – including funding for Medicare and Head Start portals – and preliminarily barred the Federal Government from withholding birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to immigrants.

To check the status of ongoing litigation, visit the Department’s Federal Actions Tracker. 

In bringing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Nessel joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the states of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.