AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for overseeing volunteerism and service work in the United States, unexpectedly withdrew teams of young volunteers from various community service projects nationwide on Tuesday. This cessation of work was attributed to budget cuts connected to the Department of Government Efficiency, as volunteers were informed that afternoon.
According to discussions with WIRED, seven workers from the National Civilian Community Corps, widely known as AmeriCorps NCCC, reported being instructed to halt their work on different projects. These projects included rebuilding storm-damaged homes, preparing a summer camp for children, and distributing hurricane recovery supplies, with directions to promptly return to their respective homes.
A volunteer, Aadharsh Jeyasakthivel, aged 23 from Boston, was engaged at a county food bank in rural Pennsylvania when he and his fellow volunteers were suddenly removed from service.
He conveyed to WIRED via a Signal message, providing an image of other volunteers in yellow vests continuing distribution duties in a parking lot.
Established under the Clinton administration by the National and Community Service Trust Act in 1993, the AmeriCorps NCCC program annually enlists 2,200 individuals aged 18 to 26 to work in teams on various projects across the country. Some volunteers collaborate directly with staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Forest Service as part of smaller initiatives within the NCCC. Participants who complete the program are eligible for an education award to assist in repaying federal student loans.
In an email dated April 15, seen by WIRED, it was noted that in line with the Trump-Vance Administration’s priorities and Executive Order 14222, titled ‘Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative,’ AmeriCorps NCCC is adapting to new operational guidelines that affect its capacity to maintain operations. A memo from NCCC national director Ken Goodson, also seen by WIRED, informed workers of their release from the program, effective April 30, along with the discontinuation of their benefits. The memo specified that the volunteers’ “early departure” was due to program circumstances beyond their control, and those who had completed at least 15 percent of the program would qualify for a prorated education award.
AmeriCorps did not provide a comment in response to an inquiry.
Earlier in April, a representative from AmeriCorps informed Politico Playbook that staff from the Department of Government Efficiency were working at AmeriCorps headquarters and that the agency was accommodating their requests. Subsequently, The Washington Post reported that the agency was contemplating a 50 percent budget reduction. In 2024, the NCCC program constituted $37.7 million of AmeriCorps’ $1.2 billion budget.
The dismissal of volunteers, who had been involved in projects such as enhancing forest resilience against wildfires and assisting FEMA staff at the agency’s headquarters, occurred shortly before the official commencement of the hurricane season.
Samantha Montano, an assistant professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, stated, “NCCC and FEMA Corps represent a critical flexible workforce that is able to support disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across the country. The loss of the people who make up these programs will be felt immediately, and especially in the next major disaster.”
