Newsom to sue Trump admin over DOGE-driven AmeriCorps cuts

• Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the Trump administration’s dismantling of AmeriCorps and pledged to file a lawsuit. He called the federal decision a betrayal of public service efforts and vowed to protect vulnerable communities.
• The Department of Government Efficiency began shutting down AmeriCorps, placing staff on leave and canceling contracts. The agency is the latest DOGE target, accused of abusing taxpayer dollars after failing eight consecutive audits.
• California plans to expand its own state-run service corps in response to the federal cuts.

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The federal government’s move to dismantle AmeriCorps, a national service program established in 1993, drew both praise and criticism, highlighting a divide over the role and effectiveness of taxpayer-funded agencies.

Supporters of the decision, including some Republican lawmakers, say the program has a long track record of inefficiency and poor financial oversight. Critics, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, argue the change will harm vulnerable communities and weaken national disaster response efforts. On Thursday, April 17, Newsom said California will file a lawsuit to halt the changes.

Newsom vows lawsuit, defends value of service programs

Newsom called the dismantling of AmeriCorps a threat to critical services and disaster recovery efforts.

“We’ve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans,” Newsom said in a press release. “We will sue to stop this.”

He also announced plans to increase recruitment for the California Service Corps, a similar state-run volunteer program.

The governor’s office highlighted AmeriCorps’ role during the January wildfires in Los Angeles County, noting that members assisted with relief efforts and supported displaced families.

Federal officials cite fiscal concerns, shift in priorities

An unnamed administration official told Fox News that roughly $250 million in AmeriCorps contracts have been canceled and 535 full-time staff, 75% of employees, were placed on administrative leave. Members are expected to formally exit the program by April 30, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.

The same official who spoke to Fox News said the administration plans to rework the service model to support new goals, while reducing what it sees as wasteful spending.

Critics of AmeriCorps have long questioned its management and effectiveness. In a December 2025 congressional hearing, Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, said the program has a long history of abusing taxpayer dollars and called for greater accountability.

“AmeriCorps is entrusted with over $1 billion of taxpayer funds every year, with the result of failure of eight consecutive audits. In 2023, the AmeriCorps Inspector General issued a ‘Management Challenges’ report detailing significant challenges AmeriCorps faces. This includes being unable to detect fraud. We have no real idea when AmeriCorps will be able to have a clean audit again. In fact, this year’s audit includes 78 recommendations still open, even after AmeriCorps said it addressed 20 last year.“

Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens, R-Utah

Stephen Ravas, the acting inspector general for AmeriCorps, expressed optimism about improving the agency’s performance. He told lawmakers at the hearing he was “cautiously optimistic” the organization could meet its accountability targets.

California stands to lose the most in federal funding

California received more AmeriCorps funding than any other state, totaling $131.1 million over the past year, according to the agency’s 2024–2025 annual report. Texas, Minnesota, New York and Florida followed in overall allocations.

The Clinton administration established AmeriCorps as a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps, offering young adults living stipends and education funding in exchange for service in areas like disaster response, education and community development.

Second legal challenge this week from Newsom

This marks the second legal challenge Newsom announced against the Trump administration in recent days. Earlier this week, the governor filed a separate lawsuit targeting the administration’s new tariff policies, which he said would negatively impact California’s economy. Both actions reflect an ongoing pattern of legal disputes between the state and federal governments over key policy shifts.