California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two states, has expanded the legal challenge against the Trump Administration. The group is targeting the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for withholding significant funds intended for AmeriCorps programs. Last month, Attorney General Bonta secured a court order to reinstate AmeriCorps programs that had been unlawfully canceled. Despite this, OMB is accused of holding back substantial funding needed for these service initiatives.
“AmeriCorps represents the best of who we are, what we can be, as a nation,” stated Attorney General Bonta. He expressed determination to fight the Trump Administration’s actions in court to ensure the continuation of these essential programs.
AmeriCorps is a federal agency that engages Americans in community-based service, supporting over 200,000 participants annually. In California alone, more than 6,150 members served at various locations in 2024 with an investment exceeding $133 million in federal funding.
The amended complaint accuses OMB of unlawfully withholding over $38 million meant for specific AmeriCorps programs across multiple states. This includes funds for Senior Companion Programs and Foster Grandparent Programs. Additionally, approximately $5 million intended for state service commissions has been withheld.
The coalition argues that this withholding violates both the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional separation of powers since Congress created AmeriCorps and appropriated its funding.
Attorney General Bonta leads this legal effort with support from attorneys general across several states including Maryland, Delaware, Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan among others.
