Erie County files lawsuit against AmeriCorps over grant termination
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County announced on Tuesday its filing of a lawsuit against AmeriCorps after it terminated a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which funded the placement of hundreds of senior volunteers in different positions across the county.
According to county officials, AmeriCorps approved the grant in January 2024 through 2027, given the county complies with the original terms. The agency now wants to terminate the grant because of President Donald Trump's executive order to stop federal funding for programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The county said the grant funded seniors to be in volunteer positions at food pantries, hospitals, schools, senior centers and the Meals on Wheels program.
In the complaint filed by Erie County, it said RSVP grant applicants have been required by AmeriCorps to 'secure community participation in local project operation by establishing an Advisory Council . . . [o]f a diverse composition that reflects the demographics of the service area.' The county said RSVP is not related to DEI.
It argues that Trump's executive order, when referring to the termination of grants, does not define the meaning of 'equity-related' and accused AmeriCorps of searching for the words 'diverse' or 'diversity' in grant applications and 'threaten[ing] those grantees.'
The Erie County Republican Committee called the lawsuit a 'politically motivated attack' on Trump and a 'waste of taxpayer money.'
The full complaint filed by Erie County can be seen below.
Complaint-filed-by-Erie-CountyDownload
Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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