Attorney General Phil Weiser prevents cuts to AmeriCorps service programs

Aug. 29, 2025 (DENVER) – The White House Office of Management and Budget will release over $184 million in illegally withheld funding for AmeriCorps service programs across the country instead of opposing a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Phil Weiser and a coalition of other attorneys general. The OMB’s attempted cuts threatened the survival of those programs and the well-being of those who depend on them.

“I have met with dedicated AmeriCorps volunteers across the state who are working to help people and provide critical services in their communities such as wildfire mitigation, teaching others how to read, supporting veterans, and working in food banks and food pantries. National service is critical to our future, it inspires young people to work on meaningful programs and make a difference,” Attorney General Weiser said. “This is our latest win protecting important federal funding for Colorado, and I’ll continue to fight for Coloradans when this administration takes illegal actions and acts like it’s above the law.”

On April 29, Attorney General Weiser and the coalition challenged (opens new tab) the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. In June, a federal court judge granted a preliminary injunction (opens new tab) that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully canceled and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking. Despite the order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for outstanding service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, and many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants.

Because the Trump administration withheld these critical resources, the coalition filed an amended lawsuit (opens new tab) in July that added OMB as a defendant. On August 8, Attorney General Weiser and the coalition filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking for an order to stop OMB from withholding the remaining funds. The Trump administration’s response was due yesterday. Rather than oppose the states’ motion, the administration instead informed the court that OMB would release all withheld AmeriCorps funds (opens new tab), which AmeriCorps will distribute to programs nationwide, as quickly as possible.

This relief means that service programs across the country will be protected from the administration’s devastating attempted cuts. AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs. Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov