AmeriCorps’ volunteers, who respond to natural disasters and help with community projects across the United States, have become the latest casualty of federal job cuts by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) informed volunteers on Tuesday they would exit the program early due to “programmatic circumstances beyond your control,” news agency Associated Press reported.
The unsigned memo to members said NCCC’s ability to sustain “program operations” was impacted by “new operational parameters” laid out by the Trump administration’s priorities and president’s executive order creating DOGE.
As per the memo, volunteers who receive a living allowance and have basic expenses covered, would be paid through the end of April.
Also, members who have completed 15% or more of their term would be eligible for a prorated amount, but those who have completed less would not be eligible.
According to AmeriCorps’ website, more than 2,000 people, aged 18 to 26 years, serve for nearly a year, and get assigned to projects with non-profits and community organizations or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The volunteers are especially visible after natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene of September 2024 and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. In a social media post in March, the organization said its teams have served 8 million (80 lakh) service hours on nearly 3,400 disaster projects since 1999.
It also provides members, who complete their 1,700-hour service term, with funding for future education expenses or student loans. That benefit was worth about $7,300 this service year.
Funding for AmeriCorps and NCCC has long been included when there are talks in the Congress of budget trims. The federal agency’s budget showed NCCC funding stood at around $38 million for the previous fiscal.
