DELAWARE - The Children’s Beach House and Spur Impact Association, are just two of several Delaware organizations facing immediate funding threats as Attorney General Kathy Jennings co-leads a lawsuit to block the Trump Administration’s dismantling of AmeriCorps.
AmericCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism. Jennings says that the Trump Administration has moved to incapacitate the agency by reducing the workforce by 85 percent. Children’s Beach House and Spur Impact Association depend heavily on AmeriCorps grants, with $283,500 and $40,720 at stake respectively.
Executive Director of the Children's Beach House, Richard Garrett, says the cuts come at a cost to the nonprofit's funding and ultimately the ability to help children in under resourced homes.
"The change of ratio is really going to, for us, is going to directly impact those that sense of safety and sense of belonging for kids. Again, it's more than just a warm fuzzy. It's exactly what prevents kids from having more serious problems." said Garrett.
Jennings announced that Delaware is co-leading a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia in legal action aimed at halting the Trump Administration’s sweeping cuts.
Attorney General Jennings said, “There is no debate here. These grants make a life-changing difference in kids’ futures, and they cost a fraction of a penny to Delaware taxpayers. No serious adult believes that teaching kids to read hurts America. These cuts are senseless, destructive, and illegal. We’re not letting this happen.”
AmeriCorps provides over 200,000 Americans each year with service opportunities that tackle educational, public safety and environmental challenges according to the AG's office. Other organizations impacted by this dismantling would include:
- Reading Assist ($305,370)
- WeProsper Family Organization ($132,300)
- Leading Youth Through Empowerment ($130,941)
- Literacy Volunteers Serving Adults Northern Delaware ($129,330)
- West End Neighborhood House ($120,879)
- TeenSHARP ($49,140)
- Family Promise of Northern New Castle County ($40,721)
"Communities up and down Delaware and around the country depend on AmeriCorps members who serve on the front lines of natural disasters, in overcrowded classrooms, and at veterans' resource centers," said Senator Chris Coons, co-Chair of the Senate National Service Caucus.
The coalition's lawsuit argues that the administration’s unilateral decision violates both the Administrative Procedures Act and constitutional separation of powers. Congress, not the President, established AmeriCorps and its programs, and the executive branch is constitutionally obligated to ensure the laws are faithfully executed.
This comes after the Trump Administration issued an executive order in February directing every federal agency to plan to reduce the size of its workforce and prepare to initiate large-scale reductions in force. AmeriCorps has notified employees that they would be terminated effective June 24.
In addition to Delaware, lead states in the lawsuit include Maryland, California, and Colorado, with support from numerous other states and governors.