Maryland Attorney General Prevents Substantial Funding Cuts to National Service Programs

According to a press release from the Maryland Attorney General’s office, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has successfully intervened to prevent a significant reduction in funding for AmeriCorps, the federal agency dedicated to national service and volunteerism. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has agreed to release more than $184 million in funds that AmeriCorps had planned to distribute to service programs throughout the nation. These funds are crucial for the operation of various programs that address critical community needs and support vulnerable populations.

The effort to secure these funds involved a legal challenge, with Attorney General Brown co-leading a coalition in filing an amended lawsuit on July 23 to contest OMB’s actions. When OMB’s response to the legal action was due, the office instead agreed to fully release the funds that had been previously withheld. This development ensures the continued operation of many AmeriCorps programs and the continuation of vital services they provide. The Attorney General highlighted the importance of this outcome for Maryland, noting that it offers security for programs and AmeriCorps members who are engaged in critical work such as tutoring struggling students and providing food assistance to those in need.

The initial challenge to the administration’s plans occurred on April 29, when Attorney General Brown and the coalition raised concerns about proposed actions that included eliminating nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly canceling contracts, and shutting down approximately $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. A preliminary injunction was granted by the Court in June, which reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that had been unlawfully terminated and prohibited AmeriCorps from implementing similar cuts without following formal rulemaking procedures. Despite this court order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million designated for outstanding service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors initiatives and programs funded through competitive federal grants.

In response to the continued withholding of these essential resources, the coalition filed an amended lawsuit in July, adding OMB as a defendant. On August 8, Attorney General Brown and the coalition filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction to halt OMB’s withholding of the relevant funds. The administration’s response was scheduled for August 28. Rather than contesting the states’ motion, the administration informed the Court of OMB’s decision to release all withheld AmeriCorps funds, totaling over $184 million. These funds are now slated for distribution to programs nationwide as swiftly as possible.

The release of these funds will safeguard service programs across the country from potentially devastating cuts. AmeriCorps plays a vital role in supporting community service by providing funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address pressing societal issues. These organizations rely on AmeriCorps to support their efforts in recruiting, placing, and supervising AmeriCorps members. In Maryland alone, AmeriCorps members are involved in diverse activities such as educating schoolchildren, contributing to home construction projects in Baltimore, restoring state parks, and assisting vulnerable communities in rural areas. Last year, Maryland received over $21 million in federal funding, which supported 4,949 AmeriCorps members. The previous termination of AmeriCorps programs and the recent withholding of funds by OMB had posed a threat to numerous service programs within Maryland and other states, including Frostburg State University’s ASTAR program, which delivers literacy, environmental, and food assistance services in western Maryland. Attorney General Brown’s coalition in this legal action included the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office

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