AmeriCorps settlement halts mass grant and job terminations

A legal settlement has halted mass grant terminations and large-scale staff cuts by AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteering. The agreement involves North Carolina and 23 other states, as well as the District of Columbia.

The litigation, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, follows a year of legal pressure to force the agency to release funds intended to assist western North Carolina in its recovery from Hurricane Helene. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson stated that the settlement ensures stability for AmeriCorps members and the organizations they serve during the rebuilding process.

The legal proceedings are paused until February 1, contingent upon AmeriCorps meeting its specific commitments. If the agency fails to fulfill these obligations, the participating states may resume litigation. Currently, AmeriCorps programs in North Carolina include more than 600 volunteers in active roles.