Latest news with #PhoenixConservancy
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge orders Trump administration to restore Americorps funding, including hundreds of thousands in Spokane area
Jun. 6—A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the Trump administration to restore AmeriCorps funding in 25 states, including Washington. The preliminary injunction, issued Thursday, reinstates $12 million in unspent funding in Washington that was frozen in April when the agency that promotes services and volunteering announced plans to cut approximately 41% of its grant funding and place 85% of its paid staff on leave. The money helps fund programs and services in education, public safety and food banks around the state. Affected organizations in Spokane County include the United Way, which lost a $50,000 grant; NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101, which lost $370,000; and the MLK Day of Service, which lost $200,000. The Phoenix Conservancy, a Pullman-based nonprofit that restores endangered ecosystems on the Palouse, the Great Plains and in Madagascar, stood to lose a $220,000 federal grant. Executive Director Chris Duke previously told The Spokesman-Review that the grant required "kind of a leap," as it largely reimburses costs already accrued, with the organization only receiving a "very small portion" of the funds before the grants were frozen. The cuts to AmeriCorps programs sparked a lawsuit from 25 states, including Washington, alleging the trims violated the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. AmeriCorps, which provides fund for Washington to use on services, notified the state on April 25 that it would immediately cancel all but one program it had supported. The cuts, Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a statement at the time, would "dismantle" around 800 service sites the state administered through Serve Washington, the state agency that distributes the funds. With approximately 1,300 volunteers, Ferguson said that would touch "virtually every corner of our state." The agency attempted to cut nearly $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. According to the Washington state attorney's general's office, the order will restore the money and stop the Trump administration from blocking funding during the ongoing court battle for now. "Thanks to the state's action, AmeriCorps volunteers in Washington can continue to serve food banks in Chelan and Douglas counties; help communities build climate resilience and prepare for disasters in rural areas; tutor children in places like the Tri-Cities and mentor at-risk youth in places like Tacoma and Seatac; and rehabilitate low-income housing, support veterans, and so much more statewide," Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement Thursday. "We'll continue this fight until the Trump administration finally respects the rule of law and the value of community service." The federal judge found that the cuts were unlawful because Congress earmarked the funds and required AmeriCorps to provide notice and an opportunity to comment on any changes to services. "Because the agency did not provide notice and an opportunity to comment before it made significant changes to service delivery, the States were unable to voice their concerns about these changes," Judge Deborah Boardman wrote . Thursday's order restores previously terminated programs in plaintiff states, and requires AmeriCorps to reinstate more than 750 National Civilian Community Corps members.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'The people being punished are the people that need help the most': Washington joins lawsuit against cuts to AmeriCorps
Apr. 30—The Phoenix Conservancy, a Pullman-based nonprofit organization that restores endangered ecosystems on the Palouse, the Great Plains and in Madagascar, stands to lose a $220,000 federal grant after the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency Service slashed $400 million in funding for AmeriCorps. The cuts, Executive Director Chris Duke said Wednesday, have left the small organization scrambling to fill a quarter of its budget. "I just don't understand, just the numbers don't seem like it would make that much of a difference," Duke said. "It's $220,000 for us, which means the world to us, but $220,000 is just a drop in the bucket to some of the things that they're choosing to spend money on now." For the conservancy, the grant was seen as a milestone, as it was the first time since it was founded in 2016 that it had received AmeriCorps funds. The program, Duke said, was rigorous, with "enormous" fiscal oversight to ensure efficiency. In Washington, the group is focused on restoring the Palouse prairie by combating weeds and working to restore a habitat for pollinators. The Phoenix Conservancy also works with local schools to teach students how to plant seeds and grow native plants. Over the past nine years, it has restored more than 700 sites across 117,000 acres of land. "The people being punished are the people that need help the most," Duke said. In late January, nonprofit organizations became anxious, Duke said, as the Trump administration began to gut grants and service programs across the country. "We always kind of suspected that this was going to happen," Duke said. "But it is nonetheless extremely jarring and disappointing, to say the least." Last week, organizations across the country received the news they had long feared: They would lose their grant funding. AmeriCorps has cut approximately 41% of its grant funding and placed 85% of its paid staff on leave. The cuts to AmeriCorps programs sparked a lawsuit Tuesday from 25 states, including Washington, which allege they violate the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. "AmeriCorps provides hope and belonging in American communities nationwide. It gives inspiration and purpose to the young people who join its ranks annually," Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement Tuesday. "But the president thinks public programs and public dollars are his to do with what he will, snatching them up through the same scheming that federal courts have already said is likely illegal." AmeriCorps notified Washington on Friday that it would immediately cancel all but one program supported under AmeriCorps. The cuts, Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a statement, would "dismantle" around 800 service sites in the state administered through Serve Washington with approximately 1,300 volunteers, "touching virtually every corner of our state." According to Ferguson, the state stands to lose $21.6 million in funding for programs, which will "impact critical services that benefit all Washingtonians, but especially our most underserved residents." Ferguson said the program aids various efforts on wildfire prevention, staffing food banks, veteran and senior services, college preparation and reading programs. Affected organizations in Spokane County include the United Way, which lost a $50,000 grant, and NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101, which lost $370,000, and the MLK Day of Service, which lost $200,000. CJ Peterson, VISTA director for the United Way of Spokane County, said the organization received word on Friday that it would lose the grant they've had for 10 years. According to Peterson, the grant allows the agency to be an intermediary with the Volunteers in Service to America program. As of Tuesday, the five VISTA members were placed on administrative hold, with a termination day set for May 20. For the Phoenix Conservancy, the grant required "kind of a leap," Duke said, as it largely reimburses costs already accrued, with the organization only receiving a "very small portion" of the funds. Since receiving the grant, the organization has brought on seven AmeriCorps members and is working to add several others. Under the program, participants receive a small stipend to help pay for living expenses. The rest of the funds are used for equipment. "The big issue, I think for a lot of nonprofits, is the way that it was already structured required nonprofits and anybody with AmeriCorps, to basically take the plunge first and front the costs, under the promise of being reimbursed," Duke said. "So we have a pretty substantial chunk of costs that we've invested. So not only did we lose a fair portion of the funding, we've incurred a bunch of costs that we may or may not be reimbursed for." For the conservancy, the hope is that donors help close the funding gap. "At the end of the day, pulling weeds and planting seeds, they can't really stop us from planting seeds," Duke said. "At least in our case, we can carry on, but the funding hole is a scary problem for a lot of groups."
