Oregon, Washington AGs claim victory after AmeriCorps funding is restored

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After months of uncertainty, AmeriCorps will receive funding after all.

The White House Office of Management and Budget agreed Thursday to release more than $184 million in funding for AmeriCorps programs across the country.

“This money supports programs that strengthen our communities, serve students and seniors, and empower the next generation of leaders in our state,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement.

“To date, we have protected over $4 billion in federal dollars that Oregonians are relying on – and we will continue to fight every day to make sure Oregon communities receive the funds Congress has allocated.”

The announcement comes after Rayfield joined 23 other attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the administration’s plan to eliminate 90% of AmeriCorps’ workforce, cancel its contracts and close $400 million worth of programs back in April.

The court granted a preliminary injunction on June 5, which was intended to restore all programs. However, the White House continued to withhold funds.

Rayfield then joined Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown and others in an amended lawsuit filed July 29, which added the Office of Management and Budget as defendant. The coalition of attorneys general again filed for a preliminary injunction on Aug. 8, intended to prevent the office from continuing to withhold the money.

“Communities throughout Washington depend on the hard work of AmeriCorps volunteers—whether they’re staffing food banks, mentoring kids, or helping home-bound seniors,” Brown said.

On Aug. 28, which was the deadline for a response, the administration notified the court they would finally release the money.

Nearly $45 million was invested in Oregon alone last year by AmeriCorps. Its members serve in schools, libraries, health clinics, shelters, community centers and forests.

Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin also joined the lawsuit, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.