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Attorney General Raúl Torrez Preserves $184 Million for AmeriCorps Service Programs

• September 2, 2025

Albuquerque, NM – Attorney General Raúl Torrez has succeeded in preserving funding for AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, after joining a lawsuit in April that challenged the fund cuts. The White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recently agreed to release over $184 million in funding that AmeriCorps plans to award to service programs across the country. OMB’s attempted cuts threatened the survival of those programs and the well-being of those who depend on them. “The work of this coalition was crucial in safeguarding these critical funds to AmeriCorps—a vital public service program that steps up when our communities need it most,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “From helping families recover after devastating wildfires and other natural disasters to mentoring youth, supporting special education, preparing teachers, and providing services for at-risk and homeless youth, AmeriCorps volunteers are essential to our communities. This $2 million investment ensures New Mexico programs can continue delivering these services, our office will keep fighting for underserved populations and the resources they deserve.” “Thanks to Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s leadership, we’ve forced Donald Trump to back down and release the AmeriCorps funding he illegally withheld. This is a major win to support critical work that connects New Mexico youth to after school programs, provides services for seniors, and increases conservation opportunities,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, the first AmeriCorps member to serve in the U.S. Senate. “AmeriCorps supports our youth, educators, rural communities, and working families – and I will keep fighting to support AmeriCorps.” More than $2 million in AmeriCorps grants were ordered to be terminated in New Mexico, impacting programs that provide critical services across the state. These include initiatives that support culturally responsible education, after-school and youth mentoring programs, special education services, teacher preparation, environmental conservation and housing and support for at-risk and homeless youth. The cuts would have affected communities in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Taos and Ruidoso – disrupting efforts that serve rural, tribal and underserved populations across the state. On April 29, AG Torrez and a coalition of attorneys general challenged the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. In June, as a result of the lawsuit, the Court granted a preliminary injunction that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully cancelled and OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for outstanding service programs – including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, and many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants. As a result of the Trump administration withholding the resources, the coalition filed an amended lawsuit in July that added OMB as a defendant and, on August 8, the coalition filed a motion form preliminary injunction, asking for an order to stop OMB from withholding relevant funds. The Trump administration’s response was due August 28. Rather than oppose the states’ motion, the administration instead informed the Court that OMB would release all withheld AmeriCorps funds, totaling over $184 million, which AmeriCorps will distribute to programs nationwide, as quickly as possible. The relief means that service programs across the country will be protected from the administration’s devastating attempted cuts. AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs. Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide. New Mexico was joined by the attorney general from Maryland, who led the lawsuit, along with Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in filing the lawsuit.

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