Federal Judge Orders Trump to Restore Funding to Clinton-Era Agency Despite DOGE Disruption

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in AmeriCorps grant funding and reinstate thousands of employees who were abruptly terminated earlier this year. The ruling, issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, comes as a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to sharply curtail the agency under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The sweeping order requires the immediate reemployment of thousands of AmeriCorps workers across 24 states and the District of Columbia, which collectively challenged the administration's moves in court after DOGE initiated deep personnel cuts and slashed hundreds of millions from federal grants allocated for AmeriCorps programs. Judge Boardman determined that the rapid dismantling of the organization violated federal administrative procedure, specifically criticizing the lack of public notice and an opportunity for comment prior to the rollbacks.

In her ruling, Judge Boardman emphasized the “irreparable harm” that communities and state governments faced due to the cuts, noting that the effects would cascade across a wide array of beneficiaries and volunteer initiatives nationwide. “The balance of equities heavily favors the plaintiffs seeking relief,” she wrote, underscoring the urgent need for continued AmeriCorps support in local communities.

AmeriCorps, created by Congress more than two decades ago, maintained an annual operating budget of about $1 billion before suddenly finding itself targeted by DOGE. Led previously by Elon Musk, DOGE was tasked with identifying and eliminating what it considered wasteful government spending. In April, the agency declared that roughly 85% of all AmeriCorps employees were to be placed on leave, while also announcing a mass Reduction in Force and informing staffers of the impending loss of $400 million in key program funding.

Attorneys general from the affected states and D.C. quickly mounted a legal challenge, arguing that both the job cuts and funding rollbacks were conducted without proper notification or statutory authority. They warned the court that these abrupt actions would have a devastating effect on essential community services provided by AmeriCorps staff and volunteers—services ranging from disaster relief and senior care to environmental preservation efforts.

Judge Boardman’s order does not require the administration to maintain AmeriCorps jobs indefinitely, but it mandates a formal notice period for any future reductions. She clarified that the protections granted apply only to the states and D.C. that joined the lawsuit, limiting the immediate reach of the injunction but setting a powerful legal precedent.

Reactions from public officials were swift and celebratory. New York Attorney General Letitia James praised the decision as a vital victory and emphasized the everyday contributions of the more than 200,000 AmeriCorps staff and volunteers. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro highlighted the critical role AmeriCorps plays in disaster response, senior and veteran support, and environmental stewardship across his state, declaring the ruling a boon to communities reliant on those services.

As the Trump administration evaluates its next steps, the ruling sends a strong message about the limits of executive power over congressionally established agencies and the ongoing importance of preserving federally funded community service programs.