The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s recent move to dismantle AmeriCorps has had a particularly detrimental effect on Moab-area nonprofits, as well as the City of Moab, who had to let go of an AmeriCorps VISTA employee in the city’s Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability department.
The notice to those affected came just before 5 p.m. April 25. It read: “Effective immediately, the above-referenced AmeriCorps award is being terminated … because it has been determined that your award no longer effectuates agency priorities. You must immediately cease all award activities. This is a final agency action and is not administratively appealable.”
Roughly 30,000 AmeriCorps workers were terminated and roughly $400 million in grants were canceled, defunding thousands of ongoing projects that were in the middle of the grant cycle.
“For many years, VISTAs have been important to the success of many local organizations,” said City of Moab spokesperson Lisa Church. “The unfortunate loss of VISTA workers will likely have far-reaching impacts in our community.”
David Olsen, VISTA project director for the region and development manager at the Moab Free Health Clinic, said the program’s abrupt cancellation showed a lack of basic fairness and consideration. In a letter to city and county officials, he urged them to advocate for Moab’s AmeriCorps workers, writing that the individuals who “served our community with dedication and sacrifice were not given common courtesy or fair warning” and that the sudden termination had left them in financial hardship.
“These individuals deserve better, and their future should have been treated with greater respect and care,” said Olsen, whose salary is 40% funded by AmeriCorps. He noted that several current local leaders got their start in the program.
Perhaps no local entity was hit harder than Community Rebuilds, which lost more than half of its workforce, according to Executive Director Rikki Epperson.
“I will say that out of 17 people in our crew, on Sunday [April 27] at 5:11 p.m. we were notified that our nine members and one program director were all fired with no notice — effective immediately,” said Epperson. “We had to find a way to alert everyone not to show up to work Monday.”
Epperson said the firings have had a huge financial impact as well. “The loss is the equivalent of $135,515.33 to finish out the terms of this grant that have been defunded mid-term.”
These are the positions Community Rebuilds will have to try to fund without the federal government’s AmeriCorps: A program director, three building apprentices, which Epperson said are “hands on builders helping owner-builders with their sweat equity;” one project manager apprentice who assists with pre- and post-construction as well as throughout the build; an outreach and events person to share stories that aim to “encourage a wide reach to future homeowners and facilitates events like the haunted bunkhouse, open houses and big spring and fall pop up restore and yard extravaganza.”
A recruitment coordinator, a sustainability coordinator and two design build apprentices also need to be funded.
Epperson voiced frustration with the order to terminate so many positions, but she also is determined to keep Community Rebuilds on track.
“It seems there was no pattern to the cuts. Community Rebuilds was leading the AmeriCorps state grant in recruitment and retention. We had just applied for our fourth grant, but I believe all future grants have been halted,” said Epperson.
Those affected are likewise upset, said Epperson.
“They are angry and shaken up,” she said. “We were told this funding was already obligated on a state level and that the federal orders couldn’t stop that funding, but DOGE is breaking all precedence.”
She has not given up hope. “We’ve given the crew a month off work with free benefits and housing to take time to reflect on what they want to do,” said Epperson. “During this time, we hope a miracle could happen and refund the initiatives.”
A desire to make society better
The Youth Garden Project’s lone AmeriCorps VISTA, Jade Valdez, lost her job on Friday afternoon, April 27, but learned she would be able to stay on in a part-time role in Community Garden Development.
“Jade moved to Moab for this position,” said Executive Director Emily Roberson. She said an ad hoc group meeting was held to develop a response.
“We talked about ways to preserve her position,” said Roberson. “Ultimately we decided to use some money to continue the VISTA program.” That required YGP to dip into its emergency savings account to keep Valdez on the payroll, albeit with fewer hours, at least through the end of November.
“The community garden development position is about relationships,” said Roberson. “She has been doing such a good job providing information to gardeners.” When she’s not helping gardeners, Valdez applies for grants on behalf of the Youth Garden Project. Roberson said $35,000 has been applied for and the applications are working their way through the system.
Reflecting on the gutting of AmeriCorps, Roberson said, “Every permanent employee at YGP participated in AmeriCorps early in their careers. I have a lot of feelings about it. AmeriCorps is an onramp for civic-minded young people to get the experience needed to start their career. Losing that … the nonprofit sector is really going to struggle.”
And that, she said, is unfortunate. “I don’t think I’d be at YGP full time if not for AmeriCorps,” Roberson said. “It gave me the skills and desire to want to make a change in the world.”
Indeed, Roberson said AmeriCorps is less a traditional job and more like a case of doing “service with a stipend. It’s essentially poverty wages,” she said. “The whole thing is very upsetting.”
(The Times-Independent) Jade Valdez, right, was fired from her position as an AmeriCorps VISTA and then re-hired at the Youth Garden Project after a committee decided to dip into the group’s emergency fund to keep her on part time. At left is Leyla Sharples of the Utah Conservation Corps.
Valdez was introspective when asked how she was doing. “It’s definitely been a rough week,” she said. “I care a lot about the people of Moab and I’m very grateful to stay here.”
UCC dodges DOGE for now
Temis Taylor, the AmeriCorps program manager for Utah Conservation Corps, said none of UCC’s positions have been eliminated. Most if not all of its Moab-based employees are with AmeriCorps.
“Utah Conservation Corps’ AmeriCorps program remains in place, although we are aware that many programs have been terminated,” said Taylor in an email. “Per our guidance from the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism, we are continuing our operations in Moab and throughout the state as usual.”
States file lawsuit over cuts to AmeriCorps
A coalition of 24 states and Washington, D.C., have filed a lawsuit alleging that the Department of Government Efficiency has no legal right to shutter AmeriCorps, which, according to the Washington Post, is “the only federal agency for community service and volunteerism.”
The coalition in a statement said the 90% reduction in AmeriCorps workforce has affected its ability to “continue administering the programs, operations and funding that make its important work possible.”
The coalition, headed by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, claims DOGE unlawfully dismantled AmeriCorps, specifically saying the Trump Administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the separation of powers doctrine.
Andrew Christiansen contributed to this report.
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