FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer, 202-538-1065, ranit@schmelzerstrategies.com
Statement by AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service
on the Federal Court Decision on AmeriCorps Funding
WASHINGTON, DC (June 5, 2025) — AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service, issued the following statement in response to today’s U.S. District Court for the District of MD ruling in Maryland, et al, v. AmeriCorps. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 24 states and DC against the Trump Administration.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for the communities that rely on AmeriCorps to meet critical local needs — from education and disaster relief to supporting veterans and military families – and for the dedicated Americans who stepped forward to serve. We’re grateful the court upheld the Congressional intent behind AmeriCorps funding and the integrity of the grantmaking process.
“When AmeriCorps funding is cut, it’s not just nonprofit community and faith-based organizations that suffer — it’s the students, seniors, veterans, and families AmeriCorps members serve. This decision sends a clear message that national service is a nonpartisan American value that must be protected.
“This is an important step forward, but the work is not done. As our nation faces urgent challenges — from learning loss to natural disasters — we must continue to invest in national service as one of our most cost-effective, bipartisan solutions.
“AmeriCorps invests in people who are willing to get their hands dirty rebuilding homes after floods, tutoring struggling students, and helping veterans access the benefits they have earned. These are not acts of charity; they are acts of citizenship. Today’s decision reaffirms what we’ve always known: AmeriCorps works, and it must be preserved.
“We call on Congress and the Administration to fully fund AmeriCorps and protect it from future political or administrative setbacks. Voices for National Service will continue to fight for a strong and stable future for national service.”
###
Voices for National Service empowers citizens to solve pressing community problems with unique local solutions by elevating AmeriCorps. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support for national service programs, which generate $17 in benefits to the United States for every tax dollar invested. AmeriCorps annually enables 200,000 Americans to serve their country and community in public-private partnerships with local nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations.