California to sue White House for dismantling AmeriCorps, Gavin Newsom says

Lia Russell, The Sacramento Bee on Apr 17, 2025

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California will sue the Trump administration for dismantling AmeriCorps while ramping up its efforts to recruit people for its own state equivalent, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The federal government laid off thousands of AmeriCorps members this week as part of an ongoing effort to downsize federal agencies. AmeriCorps members respond to natural disasters and partake in community projects, usually in yearlong stints.

Newsom called the firings “illegal” and said AmeriCorps members had been “instrumental” in helping 26,000 households recover from this year’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles by packing 21,000 food boxes and distributing supplies.

“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,” he said in a statement.

In addition to filing a lawsuit, which was not yet available as of Thursday evening, Newsom said his administration would recruit more people to join the California Service Corps program. The AmeriCorps lawsuit is the second suit this week his administration has filed after he and Attorney General Rob Bonta asked a federal judge to stop Trump’s tariffs Wednesday.

Josh Fryday oversees the program as state Chief Service Officer.

“These (federal) actions will dismantle vital lifelines in communities across California,” he said in a statement. “AmeriCorps members are out in the field teaching children to read, supporting seniors and helping families recover after disasters. AmeriCorps is not bureaucracy; it’s boots on the ground.”

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