AmeriCorps NCCC Facing Cuts: What You Need to Know About the Program Targeted by Trump Administration

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government spending have recently targeted a 30-year-old community service initiative that deploys young adults to various projects across the United States.

AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps informed its volunteers on Tuesday that they would be leaving the program earlier than expected “due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control,” according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

The unsigned memo to corps members stated that the NCCC’s “ability to sustain program operations” was affected by the Trump administration’s priorities and President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency. The official dismissal date for members was set for April 30.

AmeriCorps did not respond to an AP email requesting comment on Wednesday.

What program was affected and why?

AmeriCorps NCCC, which marked its 30th anniversary last year, engages over 2,000 individuals between the ages of 18 and 26 for a service period of approximately 10 months, as stated on the program’s website. Teams of corps members are assigned to work on projects related to education, housing, urban and rural development, land conservation, and disaster relief, traveling across the country to different assignments.

The agency covers volunteers’ essential expenses, including housing, meals, and “limited health benefits,” along with a “modest” living allowance, according to the program. Upon completing their 1,700-hour service term, members also receive funding for future educational expenses or to apply toward certain student loans. This benefit was valued at around $7,300 for this service year.

Funding for AmeriCorps and NCCC has been a recurring point of discussion during congressional budget negotiations. Federal agency budget records show that NCCC funding totaled nearly $38 million in the last fiscal year.

A White House official mentioned that the Trump administration questioned the use of taxpayer money for the program. The official requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

What work were they doing?

The traditional NCCC volunteers collaborated with sponsors, including community and faith-based organizations, nonprofits, schools, cities, and tribes. Recent service projects included working at a food bank in Washington state, constructing homes with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina, and facilitating after-school programs in Arizona.

AmeriCorps NCCC also partners with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and, more recently, the U.S. Forest Service. Over the past year, these volunteers responded to tornadoes and flooding in Iowa, hurricane damage in North Carolina, and wildfires in California, among other natural disasters, where their presence is especially noticeable.

What happens next for corps members?

Young corps members were instructed to pack their belongings on Tuesday night. Many began long journeys from their most recent assignments to campuses in Vicksburg, Mississippi; Vinton, Iowa; Sacramento, California; and Aurora, Colorado. According to the memo, members would continue to receive their allowance and health coverage through the end of April.

The memo also stated that members who had completed 15% or more of their term would be eligible for a prorated portion of their education award.

However, Kate Raftery, who served as NCCC director from 2011 to 2014, expressed concern for the corps members, many of whom she described as “unusual suspects” who “saw this as a really impactful education or career launching pad.”

“They weren’t young people who had been striving to be service members somewhere,” Raftery said. “They were looking for an opportunity to improve their life. They were looking for an opportunity to build some skills, and to be part of a community.”