Attorney General Neronha, coalition prevent $184 million in cuts to AmeriCorps service programs
Published on Friday, August 29, 2025
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today issued the following statement after prevailing in preserving funding for AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, alongside a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two governors. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agreed to release over $184 million in funding AmeriCorps plans to award to service programs across the country.
“Within one week, our coalition has clawed back billions in federal funding, unlawfully withheld by the Trump Administration, for the people of our states,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Over the past eight months, one of the questions posed most often by Rhode Island constituents and media members alike concerns the effectiveness of our fight against the illegal actions of this Administration. The proof is in the pudding. Without these lawsuits, the residents of our states would be deprived of critical federal funding sources upon which they rely to live their lives. And unfortunately for the residents of those states with Republican attorneys general, many of those funding sources remain off. We won’t capitulate, we won’t back down, and we will continue this fight for the well-being of everyday Americans who just want a government that works for them.”
Background
On April 29, Attorney General Neronha and the coalition challenged 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, the Court granted a preliminary injunction that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully cancelled 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 in July that added OMB as a defendant. On August 8, Attorney General Neronha and the coalition filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking for an order to stop OMB from withholding the relevant funds. The Trump administration’s response was due yesterday, August 28. Rather than oppose the states’ motion, the administration instead informed the Court that OMB would release all withheld AmeriCorps funds, totaling over $184 million, 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.
In Rhode Island, AmeriCorps programs are administered and supported by ServeRI and play a crucial role in community development. Last year, more than 2,900 Americans united to meet local needs and strengthen neighborhoods with AmeriCorps investing more than $6.7 million in federal funding. These service members work across Rhode Island at more than 100 locations—supporting schools, food banks, homeless shelters, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, and other essential community institutions. Their efforts not only fortify community resilience but also generate over $2.6 million in additional local resources from businesses, foundations, public agencies, and other sources in Rhode Island.
Attorney General Neronha was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in filing the lawsuit.
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