CASA/LA’s adult advocates help foster children navigate the legal system. For many youths, the program is the only support they have. (photo courtesy of CASA/LA)

State and local leaders are denouncing plans announced on April 25 by the Trump administration to cut $400 million in funding to AmeriCorps, the federal agency that supports volunteer and service programs throughout the United States.

The cuts could have a wide-ranging impact on programs in California that provide services to people in need, including children. The state received approximately $133 million from AmeriCorps in 2024, which provided funds for children’s programs, food banks, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities, nonprofits and faith-based organizations offering services in communities. California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of attorneys general in 25 states that filed a lawsuit on April 29 seeking to block the cuts. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration’s abrupt decision to end the funding is illegal, violating Congress’ power to allocate funds and the Constitution’s separation of powers, and impeding the agency’s ability to function. State leaders said the dismantling of AmeriCorps will inflict “immediate and irreparable” harm to programs.

“By abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce and volunteers, DOGE is dismantling AmeriCorps without any concern for the thousands of people who are ready and eager to serve their country, or for those whose communities are stronger because of this public service,” Bonta said. “In California, AmeriCorps volunteers build affordable housing, clean up our environment and address food insecurity in communities across our state. California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump administration and DOGE accountable to the law, and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”

The announcement of federal cuts has created fear and uncertainty for many nonprofits that help vulnerable segments of the population. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Los Angeles, or CASA/LA, whose staff and volunteer advocates help children in foster care navigate the legal system, is facing $1 million in cuts. CASA/LA CEO Dr. Charity Chandler-Cole said the organization is working to find new ways to continue providing support for 1,100 youth annually, and training 1,100 volunteer advocates.

“Every day, our staff and our volunteers stand beside hundreds of children who are in the system who already face unimaginable hardships and are going through a lot of gaps and uncertainty, and our advocates are often the only consistent adult support in their lives,” Chandler-Cole said. “We received notification on [April 25] from AmeriCorps that effective immediately, our $1 million in funding that we rely on to recruit and train our volunteers, which are the backbone of our organization, will be cut. Our funding was completely eliminated, which means you have, in essence, to immediately lay off your staff, which we haven’t done yet. We need our staff to continue to serve our young people, but due to the sudden and really unprecedented federal executive cuts, it’s putting our critical services for the most vulnerable youth at risk. And we don’t know what’s coming next.”

Chandler-Cole said CASA/LA receives approximately 50% of its funds from federal and state sources, and the other half from foundations and private donors. She said plans are being formulated on how to move forward and there are no plans to end services. The organization is holding its “Reimagine Gala Benefitting Youth in Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems” on May 2 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel downtown and is calling for support.

“We’re trying to put together a plan to be able to restructure our organization to have the least amount of impact directly on the children we’re serving,” Chandler-Cole added. “It’s pretty dire. And because our political and social climate is so unpredictable, we’re fearful of relying on federal state funding, because it could just be taken from us in a blink of an eye.”

In the face of cuts, Gov. Gavin Newsom is bolstering the California Service Corps and California Volunteers program and is encouraging people to join. The California Service Corps is the largest service force in the United States and offers four paid service programs: the Californians For All College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, Youth Service Corps and AmeriCorps California. Participants, such as college students and those seeking part-time work, can earn up to $10,000. Those 18 and over can also join numerous community service programs through California Volunteers.

“DOGE isn’t just cutting jobs, they’re attacking the very people who keep California strong,” said Josh Fryday, director of the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, also known as GO-Serve. “They’re coming after the service members who responded to the L.A. fires, the tutors helping our kids and the young leaders caring for our seniors. It’s outrageous, it’s illegal and we won’t back down. In California, we’re not just defending service, we’re strengthening it. California is doubling down, and we trust the courts will strike this down and uphold the values we fight for every day.”

For information on volunteering with CASA/LA, visit casala.org. For information on other volunteer and paid service programs, visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov.