Delaware AG Jennings co-leader in Trump effort to fight dismantling of AmeriCorps.

“It’s getting harder by the day to see anything but cruelty motivating the Trump Administration'” said Delaware Attorney General Jennings, who along with her counterparts in Colorado, California and Maryland  form  the lead states in the lawsuit.  “There is no debate here. These grants make a life-changing difference in kids’ futures, and they cost a fraction of a penny to Delaware taxpayers. No serious adult believes that teaching kids to read hurts America. These cuts are senseless, destructive, and illegal. We’re not letting this happen.”

"AmeriCorps taught me that leadership is about service, not status, and the Trump Administration’s assault on Delaware’s programs is as un-American as it is immoral," said Governor Matt Meyer. "AmeriCorps members don’t ask for praise or profit — they ask for the chance to serve their communities with dignity and purpose. I fully support this lawsuit and Attorney General Jennings because defending AmeriCorps means defending the values that make our nation strong: community, compassion, and the belief that service to others is the highest calling.”

AmeriCorps support national and state community service programs both through direct service opportunities and through grants to local and national organizations.

In Delaware, those organizations include West End Neighborhood House, Children’s Beach House, and Reading Assist, among others.

"On Saturday, Reading Assist was devastated to learn of abrupt federal cuts to one of our AmeriCorps grants," said Caroline O’Neal, CEO of Reading Assist. "This decision immediately impacts 17 fellows serving Delaware students — including military veterans, single parents, a fellow battling cancer, and a fellow who planned to use their education award to pursue a master’s degree in education. These individuals answered the call to serve and now face the loss of more than $15,000 in promised education benefits.

In early February, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force. AmeriCorps has placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave immediately and notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24.

Jennings and the coalition argue that dismantling AmeriCorps effectively precludes the states’ abilities to support its programs within their borders. AmeriCorps’ few remaining staff will not be able to process grants and ensure the flow of funds to states, which will harm organizations and agencies that receive these grants. 

The coalition argues  that the Trump Administration has acted unlawfully by gutting AmeriCorps, violating both the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. 

The AmeriCorps cuts impact more than $1 million in grants to  Delaware organizations:

• Reading Assist ($305,370)
• Children’s Beach House ($283,500)
• WeProsper Family Organization ($132,300)
• Leading Youth Through Empowerment ($130,941)
• Literacy Volunteers Serving Adults Northern Delaware ($129,330)
• West End Neighborhood House ($120,879)
• TeenSHARP ($49,140)
• Family Promise of Northern New Castle County ($40,721)
• Spur Impact Association ($40,720)

Delaware is a lead state on this lawsuit, along with Maryland, California, and Colorado.  They are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, along with the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.