House Advances Spending Bill that Makes Deep Cuts to AmeriCorps
The House bill would make big cuts.
The future of AmeriCorps comes down to 2 spending bills in the House and the Senate for Fiscal Year 2026.
What Happened
The Senate did its part. On July 31, with a 26 - 3 bipartisan vote, the Appropriations Committee advanced a spending bill that fully funds AmeriCorps at 2025 levels.
But House Republicans turned their backs on AmeriCorps.
On September 2, the House subcommittee approved a bill along party lines that cuts AmeriCorps funding by roughly 50%. If enacted, this would eliminate tens of thousands of AmeriCorps service positions.
The House bill also renames “AmeriCorps” as “America First Corps.” Meanwhile it makes drastic cuts to most AmeriCorps programs including AmeriCorps State and National, NCCC, VISTA, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companions Program. The bill makes a whopping 75% cut to the National Service Trust — which pays for education awards to AmeriCorps members.
This follows the administration's failed effort to dismantle AmeriCorps. In April, DOGE tried this without Congress — i.e. illegally — when it cancelled $400 million in AmeriCorps funding, terminated 32,000 service members, and laid off 85% of AmeriCorps agency staff.
The courts partially blocked these acts. But now, House Republicans have taken matters into their own hands.
Why This Matters
These cuts would harm the conservation workforce. AmeriCorps volunteers serve in critical roles with public land agencies and nonprofits.
They build and maintain our nation’s trail systems. They reduce wildfire risk and control invasive species. They staff our parks and educate our kids.
This would also hurt local communities where AmeriCorps volunteers provide critical support in disaster response, public health and education.
When the administration tried to dismantle AmeriCorps last spring, local communities expressed anger especially in red states. See: