CHICAGO — A federal judge has issued a sweeping injunction blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps, restoring hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and reinstating thousands of volunteers. The court ruling comes after a multistate legal challenge spearheaded by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who denounced the cuts as both unlawful and politically motivated.
$400M in AmeriCorps Funding Reinstated Across 24 States
On June 5, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued an 86-page preliminary injunction, ruling that the Trump administration “likely violated federal law” when it abruptly moved to slash AmeriCorps programs across the country without notice or public input. The ruling requires the immediate restoration of nearly $400 million in grants and mandates that AmeriCorps reinstate service members in the affected states if they are willing to return.
The judge emphasized that such drastic policy changes must go through formal notice-and-comment procedures, something the administration bypassed.
“Because the agency did not do so, the States have shown a likelihood of success that the agency actions were contrary to law, arbitrary and capricious,” Boardman wrote, as reported by Law and Crime.
Kwame Raoul: “This Is About the Constitution”
Illinois was among 24 states and the District of Columbia to join the lawsuit after AmeriCorps terminated grants to over 1,000 programs on April 25. The abrupt move also placed approximately 85% of AmeriCorps’ workforce on administrative leave, with plans to terminate them by June 24, according to Reuters.
Raoul called the administration’s cuts “a direct assault on the Constitution and public trust,” noting that Illinois alone faced the cancellation of 28 programs that served hundreds of communities across the state.
“Since 1993, approximately 1.3 million Americans have patriotically served their communities through AmeriCorps,” Raoul said in a statement via the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. “The gutting of AmeriCorps is the latest example of the Trump administration’s disregard for the Constitution to achieve their political goals.”
What Happens Next: Compliance Deadline Set for June 10
Although Judge Boardman ordered AmeriCorps to reinstate all April 25–terminated grants and restore discharged National Civilian Community Corps members, the court did not block the agency from proceeding with its internal staff layoffs, citing lack of legal standing on that specific issue.
The administration must now file a compliance status report by June 10, detailing steps taken to restore services.
Spotlight PA reports that some AmeriCorps members have already been contacted for reinstatement.
Political Reactions Across the States
The ruling prompted immediate praise from state leaders. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called AmeriCorps “essential to disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” while New York Attorney General Letitia James noted that the program’s “200,000+ staff and volunteers work daily to uplift communities.” Fox News also cited bipartisan acknowledgment of the agency’s impact.
However, the Trump administration defended its cuts, citing “$45 million in improper payments in 2024 alone” and stating AmeriCorps had “failed eight consecutive audits,” according to The Washington Post. A spokesperson added that “President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability.”
Legal Significance: Executive Power vs. Administrative Law
Legal analysts say the ruling reaffirms the limits of executive authority, especially when dismantling programs created by Congress.
“The ruling underscores that administrative agencies cannot circumvent federal statutes just to implement political agendas,” said one legal scholar quoted by Connecticut Mirror.
As of now, AmeriCorps programs in the plaintiff states — which include Illinois, New York, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and 20 others — will resume operations and services, though the future of the agency remains uncertain if appeals move forward.
Have you or someone you know been involved in an AmeriCorps program in Illinois? How have these federal changes impacted your community work or volunteer service? Share your experiences in the comments below or let us know how local programs are bouncing back.
