A federal judge in Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction halting the Trump administration’s sweeping effort to dismantle AmeriCorps, the nation’s federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The order, handed down Thursday, came in response to a lawsuit led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 25 states and attorneys general, who challenged the administration’s abrupt plans to eliminate nearly 85% of AmeriCorps’ workforce and terminate $400 million in AmeriCorps-supported programs.
The legal challenge was filed on April 29, following the administration’s announcement of mass layoffs and grant terminations across the AmeriCorps system. The Trump administration’s plan included:
- Terminating more than 1,000 AmeriCorps programs nationwide
- Eliminating nearly 85% of the agency’s workforce
- Canceling $400 million in program funding
- Ordering the removal of over 750 National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members from service
Illinois Attorney General Raoul and the coalition argued that these actions violated federal law, specifically the requirement that the agency provide advance notice and an opportunity for public comment before making major changes to AmeriCorps services. The lawsuit sought a preliminary injunction to immediately halt the closure of programs in the plaintiff states.
On June 5, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted the coalition’s request for a preliminary injunction. The court found that the Trump administration likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to engage in notice-and-comment rulemaking before making significant changes to service delivery, as explicitly required by Congress.
The court’s order requires the administration to:
- Restore all AmeriCorps programs that had been terminated in the plaintiff states
- Reinstate and return to service AmeriCorps and VISTA members who served on those programs, if they are willing and able to return
- Reinstate over 750 NCCC members removed from service in April
- Comply with federal notice-and-comment requirements before making any future significant changes to AmeriCorps service delivery or policy
The judge found that the states would suffer irreparable harm without intervention, and emphasized the vital role AmeriCorps plays in supporting veterans, K-12 students, vulnerable seniors, and residents who depend on its services.
In Illinois, the Trump administration’s actions resulted in the cancellation of 26 grants managed by Serve Illinois, which provided critical support to students, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable groups. The sudden termination disrupted schools, health systems, food banks, and other community agencies across the state, affecting hundreds of AmeriCorps members and the individuals they served.
The order restores vital AmeriCorps programs in Illinois and across the plaintiff states, preventing the Trump administration from terminating these essential services while the litigation continues.
