The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ordered the federal AmeriCorps agency on Friday to cut $400 million in funding to states, including Alabama.
The Alabama Service Commission, the state board that administers the federal funding, has called an emergency meeting for Friday morning to discuss the termination of the AmeriCorps grants.
A spokesperson for the Alabama Service Commission didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from 1819 News on Monday.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) said the AmeriCorps grant cuts for Alabama amounted to $2.5 million.
The cruel cuts continue. Trump and Musk have immediately terminated $2.5 million in AmeriCorps grants for the State of Alabama without any prior notice.
— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) April 28, 2025
They are abandoning the hard working young Americans who have chosen to serve their communities.
Here's just some of what…
A spokesperson for America’s Service Commissions claimed on Saturday that the grant cancellations were illegal.
“America’s Service Commissions (ASC) is deeply dismayed by the unexpected notification late Friday evening from the AmeriCorps agency (also known as the Corporation for National and Community Service) illegally and immediately terminating nearly $400 million in grant program funding. This sudden termination will shutter more than 1,000 programs and prematurely end the service of over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. It will also leave communities across the country without crucial services provided by the terminated programs. State service commission managed grant programs — including AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and the Volunteer Generation Fund — appear to be targeted in the grant terminations. All 50 states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands were notified of grant terminations, and approximately 80% of all AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) programs received notice of termination. Some states have had every AmeriCorps State program eliminated,” the ASC spokesperson said. “Ninety-eight percent of all ASN grants that received termination notifications are AmeriCorps State grants administered by a state service commission. State service commissions are governed by a board of bipartisan and governor-appointed commissioners. By federal law, state service commissions set the priorities for their AmeriCorps State formula programs to address local community needs. ASC is troubled by what these grant terminations will mean for almost 30,000 AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps VISTA members that are being forced to exit their programs prematurely. These members will be left suddenly without a living stipend and other benefits, such as healthcare, due to the termination of their program. Many members will be facing housing, food, health, and other financial emergencies as a result of losing their living stipends, which are likely their only source of income.”
The ASC spokesperson continued, “In addition, the hundreds of dedicated staff members who direct and manage these terminated AmeriCorps programs will likely lose their employment, as the nonprofits and other organizations who host AmeriCorps programs will not be able to pay these staff now that their grants have been terminated. We are also concerned about what this means for the programming the terminated members will leave behind with many serving in public and charter schools as tutors, providing a safe environment and quality activities in afterschool programs, coordinating food distribution at pantries, and responding to recent storms and other disasters.”
According to their website, DOGE estimates that spending cuts since President Donald Trump took office in January have saved taxpayers $160 billion.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
