KY, other states win challenge to restore AmeriCorps grant funding

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor Andy Beshear announced that he, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, 22 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia successfully secured all of the AmeriCorps funding the Trump administration tried to halt in dismantling the nation’s public service agency.

Officials say the win will restore the rest of the more than $9 million in funds appropriated by Congress to support Kentucky’s AmeriCorps service commission, Serve Kentucky, which focuses on housing development, the fight against hunger, family support, education, disaster relief and more.

“AmeriCorps and Serve Kentucky make our people, communities and country stronger by providing food, housing support, education, mental health services and more, and it was illegal and short-sighted for the President’s administration to try and dismantle this independent federal agency,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today is a good day for our commonwealth and country, as we once again see that the law – and what’s right for the American people – can rise above any challenge.”

Gov. Beshear says he joined in filing the multistate lawsuit in April of this year and in June secured an injunction to stop the federal government from terminating the nearly $400 million worth of AmeriCorps programs. On Thursday, the Trump administration agreed to release all remaining AmeriCorps money to states rather than fight the multistate team’s lawsuit. This will provide the remaining $208,487 due to Serve Kentucky.

Officials say this is the latest victory in cases Gov. Beshear has joined to protect federal dollars due to Kentucky, including the restoration of $96 million in education funding.