Rep. Troy Carter Statement on Trump Administration Eliminating AmeriCorps Programming in Louisiana
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) issued the following statement in response to the Musk-Trump Administration suspending AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) operations, significantly reducing staff by 85%, and terminating over 1,000 active FY24 grants nationwide.
After hearing concerns from Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Congressman Carter and Congressman Cleo Fields (D-LA) sent a letter to President Trump and Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Interim Agency Head of AmeriCorps, urging the Administration to immediately halt further implementation of these terminations, reinstate suspended grants where feasible, and fully restore AmeriCorps NCCC and other essential service functions. He also requested a full accounting of the legal basis and decision-making process behind these actions, including documentation of any cost analysis and compliance with statutory requirements for grant termination.
“The abrupt termination of the AmeriCorps VISTA program, NCCC operations, and staff reduction is more than a bureaucratic budget cut — it is a betrayal of service, community, and compassion. These cuts will devastate the very fabric of support that helps lift underserved communities in New Orleans, across Louisiana, and throughout our nation,” said Rep. Carter.
“In Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, AmeriCorps VISTA members have worked tirelessly and humbly, often behind the scenes, providing vital services that our cities rely on — from disaster response and community outreach to data evaluation and child care assistance. These are not abstract programs; these are real people doing real work for real families — many of whom now face an uncertain future.
“It is ironic, and deeply disheartening, that the very workers who answered the call to serve are now being cast aside in the name of ‘efficiency.’ There is nothing efficient about abandoning communities in need. There is nothing fiscally responsible about dismantling programs that yield tenfold returns in civic trust, resilience, and recovery.
“New Orleans, a city all too familiar with the challenges of natural disasters and economic hardship, cannot afford to lose these invaluable hands and hearts. And neither can America.
“I join Mayor Cantrell and even Senator Cassidy in expressing bipartisan disappointment with this decision. But more than that, I pledge to fight for the restoration of these programs and to protect those who serve our country in its most vulnerable moments. Let us not forget — a great nation doesn’t retreat from service; it invests in it.
“To the VISTA members impacted: your service matters. Your sacrifice matters. And your community stands with you,” finished Rep. Carter.
“The communities of Louisiana—and indeed the nation—rely on AmeriCorps to strengthen civic engagement, reduce poverty, and respond to disasters. Now more than ever, we cannot afford to abandon this mission or the thousands of members who have pledged to serve,” said Rep. Fields.
Background:
VISTA is a federal grant program that supports New Orleans local government by expanding its ability to offer resources to under-resourced and disproportionately impacted communities. Members of the program handled everything from research and data evaluation to community engagement and outreach, serving full time 40 hours a week.
New Orleans has hired 51 people through the AmeriCorps VISTA program since October 2020, with 21 continuing to work across 13 different city departments. AmeriCorps placed most staff members across the nation on administrative leave in mid-April amid cuts to the federal workforce and services by the Musk-Trump Administration.
Read Congressman Carter’s full letter here.
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