Iowa Conservation Group Joins Suit for Frozen AmeriCorps Funding

Strong communities start with trustworthy reporting—give to local news now! Bur Oak Land Trust, an Iowa nonprofit organization, joined more than a dozen groups from across the country in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for continuing to withhold funding for AmeriCorps programs. Bur Oak, and 13 additional nonprofits won a preliminary injunction in July from a lawsuit in response to Department of Government Efficiency cuts to AmeriCorps program funding and staffing. Despite the injunction, the expanded suit alleges the White House's Office of Management and Budget is withholding the funds. Jason Taylor, Bur Oak Land Trust's executive director, said the cuts meant the group lost all of its AmeriCorps staff for the summer, which greatly impacted the projects the trust could complete. The trust works to restore native habitat, remove invasive species and maintain infrastructure at various nature preserves in the state. "The whole idea that all of this was behind efficiency – our funds were cut as part of the DOGE program – this has been such an incredibly inefficient summer for us, because we're dealing with all these other things on top of our normal jobs," Taylor said. The lawsuit alleges that the withholding of funds and "dismantling" of the AmeriCorps program, which was established in 1993, has caused "irreparable harm" to the associated nonprofits, individual program participants and members of the AmeriCorps Employees Union, AFSCME Local 2027. AmeriCorps places participants at service locations like schools, local governments and nonprofits focusing on health, disaster relief, environmental stewardship, workforce development and veterans. Since April 2025, the lawsuit alleges, the administration has effectuated program closures, "arbitrary" funding withdrawals, layoffs that "crippled" organizations and left staff in "disarray." Despite the preliminary injunction, issued by a federal district court in Maryland to return $400 million in funding to the affected nonprofits and individuals, the lawsuit alleges the feds have "flouted" the court's orders to return funding. The new action on the lawsuit lists the OMB as an additional defendant and adds more organizations that have been harmed by the withholding of funds. According to a press release from Democracy Defenders Fund and Democracy Forward Foundation, which are organizing the effort, the suit represents AmeriCorps grantees from 26 states. Norm Eisen, executive chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund, said the administration's efforts to "kneecap" the programs are more than just illegal. "They're an attack on one of the most fundamental American ideas: that we Americans help each other," Eisen said in the press release. "With this amended complaint, we look forward to building on last month's order that such funding be restored to ensure the vital services these organizations provide can continue." The lawsuit asks the court to declare it was unlawful to withhold AmeriCorps funding and terminate staff and programs. It also asks for the OMB to release the funds already appropriated to AmeriCorps programs. A status report, filed on behalf of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the lead defendant, notes the office has restored affected jobs and is "in compliance" with statutes and appropriations that require it to carry out programs and award grants. This filing was the fourth of six required status updates to be filed by the offices per the July ruling in the case, and was filed one day after the nonprofit groups expanded the lawsuit to include OMB. The expanded filing from the nonprofit organizations said, in reference to the previous three reports, that while the administration alleges it is in compliance, the withholding of appropriated funding is a "blatant" statutory violation. Impact to Iowa In the petition, Bur Oak Land Trust is named as a single entity and as a representative of similar nonprofit organizations in the country that have been similarly impacted. Taylor said while the impacts to Bur Oak over the summer were difficult and the instability has been "frustrating" the trust will be able to bring in a new group of AmeriCorps members regardless of if the OMB releases funding. Taylor said funding from the federal program is more efficient and easier to manage, but if the office does not cede the funding, Volunteer Iowa has said it will step in to fund the program. Since 2019, Bur Oak Land Trust has had an AmeriCorps crew to help with prescribed burns, mowing, removing invasive species, leading guided hikes and restoring natural spaces in the state. Taylor said the crew is never a guarantee, as nonprofits have to apply for federal funding for the program each year. "But we've never had questions about whether or not the program may or may not exist at the federal level before," Taylor said. "This is the first time that we've seen all this uncertainty there." Other plaintiffs Other plaintiffs named in the case include AmeriCorps Employees Union AFSCME Local 2027, Aspire Afterschool, Democracy Maine, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Elev8 Baltimore, HandsOn Suburban Chicago, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, Michigan College Access Network, National College Attainment Network, North Carolina Housing Coalition, Partners for Campus-Community Engagement, Rainbow Labs, Red Cloud Indian School, Seed Coalition, The Corps Network, and The Service Collaborative of WNY. Stay informed, stay inspired! Newsletter sign up is free and join hundreds of free subscribers who rely on DecorahNews.com for trusted information and fresh perspectives.