OGE’s Dismantling of AmeriCorps Leaves U.S. Unprepared for the Next Disaster

When disasters strike in the United States—whether fires, floods, or hurricanes—it’s often AmeriCorps volunteers who are among the first to show up and the last to leave. But now, thanks to sweeping cuts by Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), that vital support system is collapsing—and the nation may be dangerously unprepared for the next emergency.

Earlier this year, wildfires tore through Los Angeles, leaving thousands of families homeless and desperate. Over 300 AmeriCorps members were deployed to help with emergency housing, insurance claims, and clean-up efforts. Among them was 23-year-old Julian Nava-Cortez, who worked long hours in emotional conditions, comforting people who had lost everything.

“We were the first faces they’d see,” Nava-Cortez said. “People were overwhelmed and in tears, but they were grateful we were there.”

His efforts, and those of nearly 74 other volunteers in the California Emergency Response Corps, helped 47,000 households begin to recover. But by the end of April, Nava-Cortez and his entire team were placed on sudden leave. Programs like his and others across California and the country were abruptly suspended due to DOGE’s budget-slashing directive.

32,000 National Service Workers Out—In Weeks

AmeriCorps, a 30-year-old national service agency, was gutted almost overnight. DOGE cut 85% of its 500-person staff, canceled nearly $400 million in grants, and sidelined an estimated 32,000 service members—crippling a program that had deployed over 200,000 volunteers annually across the U.S.

“This isn’t just a bureaucratic shake-up,” said Dana Fisher, a disaster response expert at American University. “AmeriCorps is the connective tissue in America’s emergency response network. Without it, local and state efforts fall apart.”

Programs focused on climate change, conservation, tutoring, trail maintenance, food security, and disaster recovery have all been halted or severely scaled back. The impact is far-reaching: fewer volunteers in after-school programs, fewer hands helping storm survivors rebuild, and fewer mentors serving low-income communities.

A Disaster That Hasn’t Hit—Yet

The full consequences of the cuts may not be felt until the next major disaster—and that’s what worries experts most.

“It’ll be disastrous,” said Fisher. “We won’t realize how bad this is until a hurricane or wildfire hits and there’s no one to help.”

Already, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is warning that hurricane forecasts may be less accurate due to federal understaffing. Meanwhile, President Trump has floated eliminating FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, altogether.

AmeriCorps members had been a quiet but powerful force, often helping behind the scenes: mucking out flood-damaged homes, organizing donation centers, clearing debris, planting trees, and teaching children about the environment. In places like Bellingham, Washington, AmeriCorps workers coordinated thousands of student volunteers and educated youth about native plants—work now halted indefinitely.

“It’s a huge loss,” said Sky Hawk Bressette, who worked in Bellingham’s parks department. “For the 1,000 students we served in our city alone, and for every city that uses AmeriCorps across the country.”

Lawsuits and Pushback

As programs shutter, frustration is growing. In April, two dozen states—including California—sued the Trump administration over the cuts, alleging that DOGE illegally dismantled a federally funded agency. AmeriCorps grant recipients have filed a separate lawsuit seeking to halt the gutting.

But for now, volunteers like Nava-Cortez are in limbo. He had planned to move to San Jose for school after his service term, but now he’s unsure if he’ll even make rent this month.

DOGE has also been accused of selectively targeting grants that include language about climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Many state commissions that distribute AmeriCorps funding weren’t even allowed to revise the language before being cut off.

“There are signs the Trump administration isn’t done yet,” said Fisher. “They’ve made it clear they want AmeriCorps gone.”

A History of Service, Now in Peril

AmeriCorps was created in 1993 under President Bill Clinton, incorporating the earlier VISTA program started by Lyndon B. Johnson to fight poverty. Though AmeriCorps members are paid modest stipends—about $2,000 per month for VISTA and $400 plus housing for NCCC—they provide invaluable labor to communities in need. An internal evaluation found that environmental work done by AmeriCorps returned up to $35 for every dollar spent.

“If this is about money, the cuts make no sense,” said Bressette. “AmeriCorps pays for itself in value to the public.”

Some Republican lawmakers agree. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana objected to the funding cuts, noting that AmeriCorps supports veterans and provides “crucial help after hurricanes.”