DOGE Targets AmeriCorps: A Closer Look at the Controversial Agency

The federal volunteer program AmeriCorps faces significant scrutiny and funding cuts from the DOGE initiative, highlighting long-standing issues of mismanagement and inefficiency.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency established to promote volunteerism and community service, has been under fire following the DOGE initiative’s decision to freeze $400 million in grants. This move has led to the termination of more than 30,000 AmeriCorps members and has left most of its staff either quitting or on paid leave. The DOGE action comes after AmeriCorps failed eight consecutive audits and was found to mismanage over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars annually.

The White House’s Anna Kelly criticized AmeriCorps, pointing out the agency’s history of fraud, false claims, and political racketeering. This criticism echoes a 2014 condemnation by the agency’s Office of Inspector General, which highlighted shocking waste of taxpayer funds and widespread noncompliance with regulations.

Despite its mission to foster national service, AmeriCorps has been embroiled in controversies, including questionable programs like balloon releases to raise awareness for child abuse and poetry readings on domestic violence. The agency has also been accused of engaging in political advocacy, supporting organizations like ACORN and Planned Parenthood, activities that are prohibited for federal agencies.

Critics argue that AmeriCorps’ impact is negligible compared to the vast number of private volunteers in the U.S. With only 75,000 paid members before the DOGE purge, AmeriCorps represents a tiny fraction of the 75 million Americans who volunteer annually. The agency’s claim of a high return on investment has been questioned, with many pointing out that the methodology used includes counting stipends as part of the economic benefit.

As more than 20 states challenge the funding cuts in court, the future of AmeriCorps remains uncertain. The Trump administration’s stance is clear: AmeriCorps needs a complete overhaul or risk becoming obsolete. The agency’s struggles to demonstrate tangible results and its history of mismanagement have led to calls for its dissolution or significant reform.