The Devastating Impact of AmeriCorps Cuts in Michigan
On Friday, April 25, DOGE ordered the AmeriCorps agency to terminate more than $400 million in grant funding — impacting over 1,000 nonprofit and community organizations and prematurely ending the service of over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Nearly 41% of the AmeriCorps grant portfolio has been wiped out, and every state was impacted by these drastic cuts. Tens of thousands of service members have lost their AmeriCorps living allowance, benefits, and workforce development opportunities. This follows the devastating actions taken last week to demobilize AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA Corps members and dismiss nearly 85% of AmeriCorps agency staff. Vital services that communities rely on — such as disaster response work, tutoring and mentoring students, connecting veterans and seniors to services, programs to combat hunger and homelessness, and more—will disappear unless something is done to counter these cuts.
Michigan's Impact
The loss is devastating. Michigan will lose over 1,200 AmeriCorps members, leaving local communities and neighbors without vital support. These cuts will directly affect the essential services that thousands of Michigan residents rely on. Here is the list of AmeriCorps Programs across Michigan.
AmeriCorps members are crucial to our communities, and they serve us in the following ways:
- VISTA members helping distribute diapers and other essential hygiene items to young families in need.
- Corps members focused on food access, ensuring their neighbors’ pantries are stocked and include healthy options.
- VISTA members helping high school students, many of whom would be first generation college students, find the right post-secondary education or career next step.
The real question remains: How do we tell the thousands of committed individuals, who dedicated a year of their lives to serving their communities, that their expertise, passion, and hard work are no longer needed? This is not the message our community needs right now.
NOW is the time for action. Let’s stand together and support the programs that make a difference in our state.
Your voice can help save AmeriCorps. Take action today:
- Email your Members of Congress in less than two minutes using this easy Contact Congress email tool. Voices have updated the letter to reflect these new developments, so if you’ve already sent a letter in the last week, you can send another one to your lawmakers now.
- Call your lawmakers using this simple call script and instructions. This is an important way to share more about your personal experience with AmeriCorps as an alumni, supporter, or program partner.
We want to hear from you, AmeriCorps alum! Share your story with us and highlight how your service year has impacted both your personal and professional journey. Contribute today and help us showcase the lasting impact of AmeriCorps on individuals and communities.