DOGE targets a community service program in its latest cost-cutting effort

By HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press DES MOINES Iowa AP A -year-old neighborhood institution plan that sends young adults to work on projects across the U S was the latest target of the Trump administration s campaign to slash establishment spending AmeriCorps National Civilian Group Corps informed helpers Tuesday that they would exit the effort early due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control according to an email obtained by The Associated Press The unsigned memo to corps members explained NCCC s ability to sustain activity operations was impacted by the Trump administration s priorities and President Donald Trump s executive order creating the Department of Authorities Efficiency Members would be officially dismissed April AmeriCorps did not respond Wednesday to an AP email seeking comment What project was affected and why AmeriCorps NCCC which completed its th year last year employs more than people ages to participating for a roughly -month organization term according to the operation s website The teams of corps members are tasked with working on several projects related to training housing urban and rural evolution land conservation and tragedy relief driving from one assignment to another across the country The agency pays for participants basic expenses including housing meals and a limited strength benefit as well as a modest living allowance according to the plan The effort also provided members who complete their -hour arrangement term with funding for future tuition expenses or to apply to certain pupil loans That benefit was worth about this operation year Funding for AmeriCorps and NCCC has long been scrutinized when Congress talks of budget trims The federal agency s budget proved NCCC funding amounted to nearly million last fiscal year A White House official reported the Trump administration questioned using taxpayer money for the project The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly What work were they doing The traditional NCCC helpers worked with sponsors including locality and faith-based based organizations nonprofits schools cities and tribes Specific of the current utility projects included working at a food bank in Washington state building homes with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina and facilitating after school programs in Arizona AmeriCorps NCCC also has a partnership with the Federal Urgency Management Agency and more just now the U S Forest Facility Those assistants over the last year responded to tornadoes and flooding in Iowa hurricane damage in North Carolina and wildfires in California among other natural disasters when assistants are especially visible What happens next for corps members Young corps members were narrated Tuesday night to pack up Multiple started long road trips from their latest assignment to campuses in Vicksburg Mississippi Vinton Iowa Sacramento California and Aurora Colorado Members would receive their allowance and wellness coverage through the end of April according to the memo Members were reported in the memo that those who have completed or more of their term would be eligible for a prorated amount of their instruction award But Kate Raftery who was NCCC director from to mentioned she s worried about the corps members various of whom were the unique individuals who saw this as a really impactful development or career launching pad They were not young people who had been striving to be arrangement members somewhere Raftery declared They were looking for an opportunity to improve their life They were looking for an opportunity to build various skills and to be part of a society