UPDATE: The bipartisan FY26 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill passed and was signed into law on Tuesday, February 3rd after a four-day partial government shutdown.
On January 20th, congressional leaders unveiled their final bipartisan “minibus” ahead of the January 30th government shutdown deadline. The package bundles the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies bill (which funds AmeriCorps) with the Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation-HUD spending bills.
The agreement rejects calls to eliminate AmeriCorps or impose deep cuts, and instead provides near-level funding for the agency ($1.25 billion). All service programs and the National Service Trust are funded at FY25 levels, while agency Salaries & Expenses are reduced by $10 million, and the Office of the Inspector General budget is increased by $1 million.
The bill also includes significant bill and report language, championed by Voices for National Service, that urges the Administration to distribute funds to states and communities in a timely manner. More details on these provisions are listed below.
The House will vote first on this bipartisan package, and the Senate will vote after that once they return from recess, just before the January 30th deadline.
Key Provisions Secured in Bill and Report Language:
- Language directing the agency to release funds to states and run grant competitions on time.
- From bill text:
- AmeriCorps State and National formula funds must be awarded to states by April 1, 2026
- State Service Commission Support Grants and State Commission Investment Fund Grants must be awarded by June 1, 2026
- From the report language:
- CNCS must release AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP competitive funding opportunities for FY26 no later than 10 days after enactment, and keep them open for at least 45 days
- If state laws or regulations prevent a competition from being completed on time, CNCS is directed to take all necessary measures – adjusting deadlines, providing technical assistance, or modifying the process – to ensure all states can participate
- CNCS must publish funding opportunities with sufficient time for quality applications and award renewal and non-competing continuation grants within 7 days of the end of the period of performance, absent findings of fraud or mismanagement
- From bill text:
- The bill requires CNCS to maintain staffing levels necessary to carry out its responsibilities in a timely manner
- New authority allows the CEO to grant education awards to members whose service terms were ended early due to lapses in appropriations, terminations, or circumstances outside their control – helping avoid situations where grantees are left holding that obligation
Funding Chart
| Accounts | FY24/FY25 Enacted | FY26 Senate LHHS Mark | FY26 House LHHS Mark | FY26 Conferenced Bill |
| Program Operating Expenses | $975.53 M | $975.53 M | $524.73 M | $975.53 M |
| AmeriCorps State and National | $557.1 M | $557.1 M | $278.5 M | $557.1 M |
| AmeriCorps VISTA | $103.29 M | $103.29 M | $51.6 M | $103.29 M |
| AmeriCorps NCCC | $37.73 M | $37.73 M | $20.92 M | $37.73 M |
| Foster Grandparent Program | $125.36 M | $125.36 M | $62.69 M | $125.36 M |
| Senior Companion Program | $56.45 M | $56.45 M | $28.23 M | $56.45 M |
| RSVP Program | $55.11 M | $55.11 M | $55.11 M | $55.11 M |
| State Commission Support Grants | $19.54 M | $19.54 M | $9.76 M | $19.54 M |
| Days of Service | $6.15 M | $6.15 M | $6.15 M | $6.15 M |
| Volunteer Generation Fund | $8.56 M | $8.56 M | $8.56 M | $8.56 M |
| Evaluation | $6.25 M | $6.25 M | $3.3 M | $6.25 M |
| National Service Trust | $180 M | $180 M | $40 M | $180 M |
| Salaries and Expenses | $99.686 M | $89.686 M | $69.63 M | $89.686 M |
| OIG | $7.595 M | $7.595 M | $8.595 M | $8.595 M |
| Agency Total | $1.262 B | $1.252 B | $642.95 M | $1.254 B |
Additional Resources: