“We’re Going to Sue to Stop Them” Gov. Evers Slams Trump Administration for Cuts to AmeriCorps, Serve Wisconsin

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today slammed the Trump Administration for abrupt cuts to AmeriCorps affecting Serve Wisconsin, terminating dozens of programs and ending services at over 300 sites across Wisconsin and cutting literacy and math tutors for kids, recovery services for Wisconsinites working to overcome addiction and substance misuse, support for homeless youth, stopping high-priority conservation projects, among other critical programs. The cuts will impact services in well over half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

The Evers Administration was informed on Friday—without any previous notice—that the Trump Administration plans to immediately terminate federal grants for all 25 of the currently operating AmeriCorps programs in Serve Wisconsin’s portfolio, as well as the grants for five additional organizations developing programs and a grant to support local communities through the Volunteer Generation Fund.

Gov. Evers today announced Wisconsin plans to join a multi-state lawsuit suing the Trump Administration over the cuts, which will be filed as early as later today.

“Once again, the Trump Administration is trying to cut federal funding that Congress already approved and Wisconsin is counting on to help kids, families, and communities across our state—all so they can pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires,” said Gov. Evers. “These latest reckless Trump and Musk cuts will hurt Wisconsin’s kids who are homeless or who need tutors for math and reading, folks who are working to overcome addiction and substance use, stop work on conservation projects, as well as all of the dedicated public servants whose livelihoods are depending on this work. While Republicans in Congress may be fine staying silent as the Trump Administration unilaterally tries to cut federal funding approved by Congress, I will not. We’re going to sue to stop them.”

AmeriCorps is a federal government agency created over 30 years ago devoted to helping address poverty, improve the environment, and support education and student achievement with a mission to “improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.” Serve Wisconsin, which was created under former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, is Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps agency and state Board for National and Community Service, which administers federal AmeriCorps funding for organizations in communities across the state.

The Trump Administration’s abrupt funding cuts will force Serve Wisconsin to end services and programming at over 300 sites across Wisconsin, including schools, medical clinics, nonprofit organizations, and local government offices, among other key community partners. Many programs have been operating through AmeriCorps for over a decade. The impacts of the closure of these AmeriCorps programs would be felt both immediately and over the coming months by thousands of Wisconsin residents, as well as those currently serving.

The ending of the 25 AmeriCorps programs in Serve Wisconsin’s portfolio and the termination of additional AmeriCorps grants in Wisconsin will have negative economic, educational, public health, and other impacts on communities and people across our state. This will cause unexpected and unnecessary harm to numerous Wisconsin communities and organizations and to the hundreds of AmeriCorps members whose service is being cut short will face incredible disruption to their financial stability and professional development.

“We were appalled by the immediate and illegal termination of the federal grants for all 25 of the AmeriCorps programs and Volunteer Generation Fund Grants whose funds are administered by Serve Wisconsin without any warning, causing incredible upheaval for programs and AmeriCorps members serving at hundreds of sites across Wisconsin,” said Jeanne Duffy, Executive Director for Serve Wisconsin. “The sudden and unnecessary loss of services will have detrimental impacts for thousands of students finishing the school year, as well as people in recovery from substance addiction, homeless youth, individuals with disabilities, people accessing services at health clinics, and those served by hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout Wisconsin. Additionally, thousands of kids and families may be impacted by the loss of planned summer programming. These terminations are also causing dramatic upheaval in the lives of the hundreds of AmeriCorps members that had dedicated a year of their life to service, losing access to their living allowance that may have been their only source of income and facing immediate financial crises around paying for housing and living expenses.”

According to Serve Wisconsin, if these grant terminations take effect, when thousands of students come to school, they will have lost the person tutoring them in literacy or math, leading classroom lessons, helping them to graduate high school and apply to college, or leading their after-school programs. Hundreds of people in recovery from substance abuse and addiction will have lost their recovery coaches, and thousands more people will be impacted by the loss of programming at health clinics and organizations throughout the state. Services and outreach provided to homeless and runaway youth will be greatly reduced, and hundreds of nonprofits across the state will have lost support in serving their communities.

These are only a fraction of the loss of services that will be felt immediately, with many other service losses having their impact felt over the coming months. Thousands of kids and their families will experience the loss or reduction in summer programming, with many families dependent on these programs when school is not in session. Over a thousand individuals with disabilities and their families will experience a dramatically reduced ability to receive therapeutic recreation activities and respite care. Numerous planned conservation projects on public lands throughout the state will no longer be completed, impacting local agencies and the public at large.

The termination of grants and closure of programs without any prior notice will also have a detrimental impact on the AmeriCorps members serving in Wisconsin. They will be left suddenly without a living stipend and other benefits, such as healthcare, due to the termination of their program. Many members will be facing housing, food, health, and other financial emergencies as a result of losing their living stipends, which are likely their only source of income during their service. Additionally, the dedicated staff members who direct and manage these terminated AmeriCorps programs may also lose their employment, as the nonprofits and other organizations who host AmeriCorps programs will likely not be able to pay these staff now that their grants have been terminated.

A list of impacted AmeriCorps programs through Serve Wisconsin is available here.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of the regional-specific impacts Wisconsinites will experience due to the Trump Administration’s reckless cuts.

DANE, COLUMBIA, ROCK COUNTIES
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in Dane, Columbia, and Rock counties:

Dane County Department of Human Services
Partners for After School Success AmeriCorps members are placed in predominately low-income or resource-scarce communities to enhance the academic achievement and school engagement of middle and high school youth through positive relationships, academic coaching and tutoring, extended learning programs, and volunteer service.

Easterseals Wisconsin
AmeriCorps members provide intensive personal care and lead or facilitate therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities and their families at Camp Wawbeek and Respite Camp. AmeriCorps members also provide therapeutic recreation activities at Veteran Family Camps for veterans and their families.

United Way of Dane County – Achievement Connections
AmeriCorps members tutor high school students in math and leverage additional volunteers to provide tutoring to increase the number of students who pass algebra by 10th grade.

United Way of Dane County – Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Project
AmeriCorps members serve as literacy tutors and tutor coordinators in high-need elementary schools, working with staff to increase students’ literacy skills in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Additionally, the termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in Dane, Columbia, and Rock counties:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services
AmeriCorps members meet the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness in their community by connecting them with supportive services, shelter, and basic needs. Activities include outreach, shelter support, crisis management, and response to community referrals.

Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
AmeriCorps members help build capacity and support free and charitable clinics and community health departments throughout Wisconsin. Through this program, members increase access to healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients by creating new resources, programs, and opportunities in their communities.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Farm to School
AmeriCorps members build healthy communities by improving child nutrition through educational farm-to-school activities for students and families, connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses, and increasing the capacity of communities to support sustainable programs to encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

MILWAUKEE, RACINE, KENOSHA, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and Waukesha counties:

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee – ClubCorps
AmeriCorps members provide youth with in-school or after-school academic enrichment, early literacy instruction, college preparation and career readiness programming, arts programming, social-emotional instruction, community service programming, and after-school sports programming at local Boys and Girls Clubs and environmental education activities at Camp Whitcomb/Mason.

College Possible Milwaukee
AmeriCorps members provide intensive coaching and support to low-income high school and college students in order to make college admission and success possible. AmeriCorps members serve high school students from 13 high schools in Milwaukee and one high school in Stevens Point. After high school graduation, AmeriCorps members continue providing support to program participants through college graduation, no matter which school they attend.

LibraryCorps
AmeriCorps members increase K-12 student access to library resources and literacy-based activities by teaching information and technology literacy-based lessons at schools during the day and providing after-school programming and support at Milwaukee Public Library branches. In the summer, they provide summer outreach reading programs.

Marquette University – 414 Fellows
AmeriCorps members engage kids ages 0-3 in one-on-one language-building activities to increase school readiness through gains in language skills.

Milwaukee Christian Center Inc. – YouthBuild
AmeriCorps members make a tangible impact on their community through the construction of affordable, energy-efficient housing and accessible home modifications while gaining job and leadership skills, improving their education, and developing their community through service.

Milwaukee Justice Center – MJC AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps members provide information and assistance to members of the public accessing the Milwaukee County Courthouse by providing information and helping individuals navigate the processes of filing documents at the courthouse.

Public Allies Wisconsin
AmeriCorps members work to enhance and expand the capacity of nonprofit organizations to deliver critical direct services to Wisconsin residents, primarily in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha.

Racine Zoo AmeriCorps Program
AmeriCorps members provide environmental education programming to elementary, middle school, and high school students to reinforce the grade-level science curriculum through inquiry and research activities, environmental presentations, and programming for participating classes at the zoo.

Teach For America Milwaukee
AmeriCorps members lead classrooms across the city of Milwaukee while growing and strengthening the movement for educational equality and excellence.

Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
AmeriCorps members will help build capacity and support free and charitable clinics and community health departments throughout Wisconsin. Through this program, members increase access to healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients by creating new resources, programs, and opportunities in their communities.

Additionally, the termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and Waukesha counties:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services
AmeriCorps members meet the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness in their community by connecting them with supportive services, shelter, and basic needs. Activities include outreach, shelter support, crisis management, and response to community referrals.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Farm to School
AmeriCorps members build healthy communities by improving child nutrition through educational farm-to-school activities for students and families, connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses, and increasing the capacity of communities to support sustainable programs to encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

Wisconsin Math Corps
AmeriCorps members engage students in kindergarten through eighth grade in an academic intervention model to help them build their math skills to become algebra-ready by the conclusion of eighth grade.

WisCorps
AmeriCorps members complete high-priority conservation projects across the state of Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Additional WisCorps members engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

SHEBOYGAN, WASHINGTON, AND OZAUKEE COUNTIES
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in Washington, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan counties:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services
AmeriCorps members meet the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness in their community by connecting them with supportive services, shelter, and basic needs. Activities include outreach, shelter support, crisis management, and response to community referrals.

Wisconsin Math Corps
AmeriCorps members engage students in kindergarten through eighth grade in an academic intervention model to help them build their math skills to become algebra-ready by the conclusion of eighth grade.

WisCorps
AmeriCorps members complete high-priority conservation projects across the state of Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Additional WisCorps members engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

BROWN, OUTAGAMIE, CALUMET, AND WINNEBAGO COUNTIES
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in Green Bay and the Fox Cities:

Green Bay Conservation Corps
AmeriCorps members complete conservation projects and engage the public in educational programming and volunteer service. Members will address areas such as habitat restoration and preservation, trail maintenance and expansion, invasive species removal, and native plant establishment, community garden upkeep, and access improvements in Green Bay’s parks and other outdoor spaces.

United Way Fox Cities – Be Well Fox Valley
AmeriCorps members provide capacity-building services to improve health and well-being and address social determinants of health at nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago, and neighboring Wisconsin counties.

The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in Green Bay, the Fox Cities, and northeastern Wisconsin:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps
AmeriCorps members are trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addiction and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services
AmeriCorps members meet the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness in their community by connecting them with supportive services, shelter, and basic needs. Activities include outreach, shelter support, crisis management, and response to community referrals.

Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
AmeriCorps members will help build capacity and support free and charitable clinics and community health departments throughout Wisconsin. Through this program, members increase access to healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients by creating new resources, programs, and opportunities in their communities.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Farm to School
AmeriCorps members build healthy communities by improving child nutrition through educational farm-to-school activities for students and families, connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses, and increasing the capacity of communities to support sustainable programs to encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

WisCorps
AmeriCorps members complete high-priority conservation projects across the state of Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Additional WisCorps members engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

EAU CLAIRE AND LA CROSSE COUNTIES
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in Eau Claire County:

UW-Eau Claire ECLIPSE
AmeriCorps members provide one-on-one interventions to 3-5-year-old kids at risk and/or from low-income families to help them grow in the areas of language, literacy, social interaction, and initiative skills.

Western Dairyland EOC Inc. – Fresh Start
AmeriCorps members construct new homes for income-eligible families in the local community while working on achieving high school diplomas/HSEDs, developing career goals, improving self-esteem, and alleviating barriers to economic self-sufficiency.

Additionally, the termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in Eau Claire County:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps
AmeriCorps members are trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addiction and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the closure of the following AmeriCorps programs based in La Crosse County:

WisCorps
AmeriCorps members complete high-priority conservation projects across the state of Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Additional WisCorps members engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

Additionally, the termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in La Crosse County and across western Wisconsin:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps
AmeriCorps members are trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addiction and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Farm to School
AmeriCorps members build healthy communities by improving child nutrition through educational farm-to-school activities for students and families, connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses, and increasing the capacity of communities to support sustainable programs to encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

NORTHERN AND NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN
The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs in Portage and Wood Counties:

College Possible Milwaukee
AmeriCorps members provide intensive coaching and support to low-income high school and college students in order to make college admission and success possible. AmeriCorps members serve high school students from 13 high schools in Milwaukee and one high school in Stevens Point. After high school graduation, AmeriCorps members continue providing support to program participants through college graduation, no matter which school they attend.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps
AmeriCorps members are trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addiction and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

The termination of AmeriCorps grants would cause the ending of service by AmeriCorps members with the following statewide programs across northern Wisconsin:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Community Corps
AmeriCorps members are placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps
AmeriCorps members are trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addiction and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access
AmeriCorps members are placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
AmeriCorps members help build capacity and support free and charitable clinics and community health departments throughout Wisconsin. Through this program, members increase access to healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients by creating new resources, programs, and opportunities in their communities.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Farm to School
AmeriCorps members build healthy communities by improving child nutrition through educational farm-to-school activities for students and families, connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses, and increasing the capacity of communities to support sustainable programs to encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

WisCorps
AmeriCorps members complete high-priority conservation projects across the state of Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Additional WisCorps members engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.