As Trump and DOGE Destroy AmeriCorps, Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois Members to Discuss Impact on Local Communities
[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of Illinois AmeriCorps to discuss the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) reckless cuts, which ripped away at least $12 million from 26 of the state’s 33 grantees. Duckworth also spoke about how these cuts reduce or even eliminate so many of the essential services AmeriCorps members perform in communities around the state, including caring for Veterans, tutoring in schools and supporting efforts to curb the fentanyl epidemic. Photos from today’s roundtable with Illinois AmeriCorps can be found on the Senator’s website.
“Trump and Elon Musk wouldn’t know the meaning of service if it hit them in the face—so it’s not surprising that two billionaires are gutting the agency that helps millions of Americans give back by serving their communities,” Duckworth said. “If Trump wants to save the government money, he should make sure the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes—not slash yet another lifeline that provides critical services to millions of Americans. Today, I met with members of Illinois AmeriCorps to hear how Trump’s latest attacks are costing them their jobs and stripping away vital community resources—and to discuss how we’re working together to fight back against his one-sided chaos.”
“From rebuilding homes and providing rural health care, to tutoring kids after school and cleaning up after natural disasters, AmeriCorps supports our most under-resourced communities,” said Durbin. “Community members that rely on these services are left in the lurch thanks to President Trump’s decision to eliminate this critical, bipartisan-supported funding. Alongside Senator Duckworth, I will continue urging my Republican colleagues to fight against this Administration’s senseless attempts to eliminate such small amounts of funding that have such incredible, positive impact in their communities like here in Chicago.”
Duckworth has been a longtime supporter of AmeriCorps and our country’s service organizations, including securing substantial federal funding to support local community service organizations as well as introducing legislation to help volunteers lower student debt. Last month, Duckworth joined U.S. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), along with 146 fellow Congressional colleagues, in calling out President Trump for targeting AmeriCorps and NCC AmeriCorps members—demanding he reverse cuts to the program made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Trump Administration placed a majority of AmeriCorps employees on leave in April as part of DOGE’s broader spending cuts.
Programs such as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors deploy more than 200,000 Americans annually to carry out results-driven projects at over 35,000 locations across the country. Working in partnership with thousands of nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations, these dedicated volunteers and workers help promote employment opportunities, strengthen the workforce and support those in need.
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