Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today won a court order that blocks the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.
On April 29, Attorney General Clark joined a coalition of 23 other attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in challenging the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. Attorney General Clark and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the closure of programs in plaintiff states. Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted the preliminary injunction, restoring all programs that had been terminated in plaintiff states, and ordering the reinstatement of over 750 National Civilian Community Corps members.
“I am pleased that today the Court affirmed our argument that the Trump administration lacks the authority to unilaterally cut AmeriCorps programs,” said Attorney General Clark. “This is a win for the rule of law as well as for Vermont communities, which have been well served by AmeriCorps volunteers for decades.”
Attorney General Clark and the coalition successfully argued that the Trump administration’s attacks on AmeriCorps are illegal. By closing $400 million worth of AmeriCorps programs without explanation, the Trump administration harmed States that administer those programs as well as K–12 students, vulnerable seniors, and others who depend upon their services.
A federal judge found that the Trump administration’s actions were unlawful, because Congress explicitly required that the agency provide advance notice and an opportunity to comment on an any major changes to AmeriCorps services. The Trump administration ignored this clear legal requirement, and as a consequence, the Court granted relief to the Plaintiff states.
Today’s order restores vital AmeriCorps programs in Vermont, including work supporting thousands of children and youth, improving thousands of acres of public lands, maintaining hundreds of miles of trail, and recruiting and managing hundreds of volunteers. The court’s decision preliminarily stops the Trump administration from terminating these essential programs while the litigation continues.
Joining Attorney General Clark in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
A copy of the court order is available here.
Source: 6.5.2025. MONTPELIER, Vt. – Attorney General
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