Attorney General Ellison wins court order to stop the dismantling of AmeriCorps

June 5, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Attorney General Ellison today won a court order that blocks the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.

On April 29, Attorney General Ellison joined a coalition of 23 other attorneys general—and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania—in challenging the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. Attorney General Ellison and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the closure of programs in plaintiff states. Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted the preliminary injunction, restoring all programs that had been terminated in plaintiff states, and ordering the reinstatement of over 750 National Civilian Community Corps members. The preliminary injunction lasts for the duration of Attorney General Ellison’s lawsuit.

“AmeriCorps is a program dedicated to public service, giving back to your community, and improving people’s lives,” said Attorney General Ellison. “When people are struggling, Minnesotans believe in lending a helping hand, and that’s also the ethos AmeriCorps brings to the work they do across our state. Trump’s attempts to dismantle this program are as cruel as they are unlawful, and I am pleased to have won a court order blocking Trump’s actions. I will continue working to defend AmeriCorps and I will always stand up to this administration when they violate the law and harm the people of Minnesota."

Attorney General Ellison and the coalition successfully argued that the Trump administration’s attacks on AmeriCorps are illegal. By closing $400 million worth of AmeriCorps programs without explanation, the Trump administration harmed states that administer those programs as well as K–12 students, vulnerable seniors, and others who depend upon their services.   

A federal judge found that the Trump administration’s actions were unlawful, because Congress explicitly required that the agency provide advance notice and an opportunity to comment on an any major changes to AmeriCorps services. The Trump administration ignored this clear legal requirement, and as a consequence, the Court granted relief to the Plaintiff states. 

Today’s order restores vital AmeriCorps programs in Minnesota. Some of the projects undertaken by AmeriCorps members in Minnesota include tutoring students who are struggling academically, teaching digital literacy skills to low-income Minnesotans to help them find greater economic opportunities, and working with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing. The court’s decision preliminarily stops the Trump administration from terminating essential programs like these while the litigation continues. 

Joining Attorney General Ellison in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.