The Trump administration has placed nearly three-quarters of AmeriCorps’ full-time workforce on administrative leave in a sweeping effort to restructure the Clinton-era volunteer agency.
Out of the 700 employees, 535 have been sidelined, according to administration officials. The move is part of a broader initiative to shrink the size of the federal government.
Alongside the staff shake-up, AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps — a program designed to provide volunteer opportunities for young adults — was pulled from the field. In addition, contracts worth about $250 million were terminated.
The White House has indicated the agency will continue, though operations are expected to restart only after a review.
AmeriCorps, created by President Bill Clinton in 1993, was envisioned as a national service program to strengthen communities. Yet in recent years, the agency has come under scrutiny for its handling of taxpayer dollars and repeated failures in financial oversight.
And now, with its workforce slashed and programs halted, the future of AmeriCorps hangs in the balance…
