Maryland leaders, community organizations highlight impact of federal cuts to AmeriCorps funding
Maryland leaders, including Attorney General Anthony Brown, gathered Thursday afternoon to discuss the negative impacts of federal funding cuts to AmeriCorps.
It comes after the Trump administration terminated more than 1,000 AmeriCorps grant programs, about half of which serve states and communities President Trump won in the 2024 election. The cuts amount to nearly $400 million, or 41% of the organization's grants.
Two dozen states, including Maryland, sued the Trump administration over the decision.
Ahead of the program cuts, AmeriCorps put 85% of its staff on administrative leave.
What is AmeriCorps?
Founded in 1993, AmeriCorps oversees around 200,000 members, most of whom receive living stipends, and employs hundreds of people. It funds both directly operated programs, like the National Civilian Community Corps, and grant-funded programs overseen by states.
AmeriCorps provides assistance to communities that need to tackle major challenges, including conservation, natural disaster response, and other projects.
Maryland Senate Bill Ferguson talked about his time with the AmeriCorps Teach for America program in Baltimore.
"AmeriCorps gave me the foundation to serve my community and shape my career in public service," Ferguson said. "These cuts don't just affect budgets-they impact lives, communities, and the future of civic engagement in Maryland and across the country."
What impact has AmeriCorps had on Maryland?
The Choice Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County uses AmeriCorps members to help underserved youth overcome poverty and improve college access.
Transform Mid-Atlantic deploys AmeriCorps VISTA members to mentor under-resourced students and expand education access.
Founded in 2013, Baltimore Corps recruited, trained, and employed over 300 Baltimore residents as contact tracers and care coordinators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul Costello, executive director of Project CHANGE, Montgomery County's original AmeriCorps program, told the Baltimore Banner that the funding loss felt like a "punch in the gut."
State leaders said the funding cuts will impact several organizations in Maryland and the residents they serve.
"The Trump Administration's funding cuts hurt Marylanders who depend on AmeriCorps to tutor children in after-school programs and feed families at food banks. These cuts threaten our nation's commitment to civic service and uplifting those most in need," said Attorney General Brown.
According to leaders, the following Maryland organizations, institutions and counties were impacted by funding cuts:
- The Maryland Institute
- CASA
- Frostburg State University
- Montgomery County
- Elev8 Baltimore
- MD Department of Service and Civic Innovation
- Johns Hopkins University
- Youth Educational Services
- MD Department of Natural Resources
- Digital Harbor Foundation
- Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake
- Civic Works
- Howard EcoWorks
- Baltimore Corps
