Federal Judge Orders Trump to Restore Funding to Clinton-Era Agency Amid DOGE Controversy
Judge Deborah Boardman finds Trump administration likely violated procedures in AmeriCorps funding cut and employee terminations.
A federal judge issued a sweeping order on Thursday that requires the Trump administration to immediately restore millions of dollars in grant funding for AmeriCorps and reinstate thousands of terminated employees. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, found that the administration’s sudden move to cut funding and staffing at the longstanding service organization was executed in violation of federal law.
Judge Boardman sided with 24 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, which had jointly sued over what they described as abrupt and unlawful cuts imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year. In her order, Boardman directed the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in congressionally approved funding, which DOGE had slashed as part of a broader campaign to reduce government expenditures.
The court found that the administration failed to adhere to established administrative procedures, notably by not providing the required public notice or comment period before carrying out mass terminations and program cancellations. “Any harm the defendants might face if the agency actions are enjoined pales in comparison to the concrete harms that the States and the communities served by AmeriCorps programs have suffered and will continue to suffer,” Judge Boardman wrote in her decision.
While the order does not guarantee permanent employment for affected AmeriCorps workers, it does require the administration to provide adequate notice prior to any future workforce reductions. AmeriCorps, established by Congress more than two decades ago, had boasted an operating budget near $1 billion prior to this year. However, it became a target of DOGE — the efficiency agency previously led by Elon Musk and tasked with curbing wasteful spending — resulting in job losses for thousands of workers across the country.
DOGE’s decision to put approximately 85% of AmeriCorps staffers on leave in April, followed by an announcement of a mass Reduction in Force and a planned $400 million cut in grants, sparked outcry from states and local communities. Plaintiffs argued that these actions posed the risk of irreparable harm to critical community services ranging from disaster relief to support for seniors and veterans, and that they were conducted without proper authority or due process.
Judge Boardman’s preliminary injunction applies only to the 24 states and the District of Columbia that joined the lawsuit. Her order compels the administration to restore staff and funding pending further review of the case’s merits, concluding that the plaintiffs’ arguments regarding harm and lack of due process were compelling.
The outcome was celebrated by state leaders, with New York Attorney General Letitia James declaring the ruling a victory for the more than 200,000 AmeriCorps staff and volunteers nationwide. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also commended the decision, highlighting its importance for programs that support disaster response, senior assistance, and environmental conservation efforts across his state.
Despite the ruling, the Trump administration maintains it was acting to promote government efficiency. However, Judge Boardman emphasized in her decision that safeguarding the integrity of congressional program mandates and preserving essential community services outweighs the claimed cost-saving benefits for now. With the legal battle ongoing, the future of AmeriCorps—and the communities it serves—remains closely watched.
