DOGE Meddling Prompts Firing of AmeriCorps Volunteers

AmeriCorps NCCC Volunteers Dismissed Amid New Admin Priorities

AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) has unexpectedly let go of many young volunteers — shortly after a visit from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the agency's headquarters, the New York Post reported. 
On Tuesday, April 15, volunteers received abrupt notifications instructing them to pack up and return home. 
A memo explaining the decision stated, "In alignment with the Trump-Vance Administration priorities… AmeriCorps NCCC is working within new operational parameters that impact the program's ability to sustain program operations."
This news comes amid suggestions DOGE leader Elon Musk has faded into the background of directing the organization after coming up short on his stated goals.
Here's what's happening. 
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Program Budget and Early Terminations

Despite having a budget of $37.7 million in fiscal year 2024 and an expected $42.7 million for the current year, AmeriCorps NCCC announced that all members would be sent home by April 30. 
The memo, signed by NCCC National Director Ken Goodson, informed volunteers, "I am hereby approving your early release from the NCCC program for compelling personal circumstances." 
It further explained that the early departure was due to circumstances beyond the volunteers' control, and that they may be eligible for a "pro-rated education award if you have completed 15 percent or more of your 1700-hour service term."

Extent of Reductions and DOGE's Role

The full extent of the reductions within AmeriCorps NCCC is unclear, and it remains unknown whether these DOGE cuts affect other programs within the agency. 
However, AmeriCorps confirmed that DOGE started an investigation into the federal agency's operations: "Staff from DOGE are currently working at AmeriCorps headquarters and the agency is supporting their requests," said AmeriCorps press secretary Erin Schneider in a statement to Politico West Wing Playbook.

Fiscal Criticism of AmeriCorps NCCC

AmeriCorps' NCCC program, which recruits over 1,000 young adults annually for volunteer work in areas like disaster response, housing and environmental initiatives, has long faced scrutiny from Republican fiscal "hawks" as some analysts call them.
A 2017 report from the AmeriCorps Inspector General pointed out that the cost of each volunteer's 10-month service was significantly higher than other AmeriCorps programs, with little to show in terms of long-term outcomes. The report highlighted that the program's services were "four to eight times more than the same services" provided by other programs, raising concerns about inefficiency and high costs.

Volunteers and Alumni React to the Layoffs

The news of the NCCC's cuts has sparked frustration among current members and alumni. 
On social media, many expressed their dismay about the abrupt dismissal of volunteers.
Stephan Edgar, a strategic resilience and preparedness manager at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shared his thoughts on LinkedIn, writing, "I just found out that the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), the program which gave me essential experience in disaster response and recovery, is in the process of being gutted entirely." 
He went on to describe how many members, including his brother, were being sent home and how several projects aiding vulnerable communities were being abandoned.