America's Service Commissions Statement on FY26 Federal Funding Lapse

America’s Service Commissions wants to reassure AmeriCorps members and volunteers that AmeriCorps grants funded under FY25 and earlier are still operational. The federal AmeriCorps agency (Corporation for National and Community Service) released the following information to AmeriCorps grantees earlier today: 

• If your organization has an active, awarded grant, your program/subgrantees should continue to operate.
• AmeriCorps members and volunteers should continue to serve.
• eGrants will remain available, though Help Desk support will be limited.
• Rules and procedures regarding effective cash management will be in effect.
• AmeriCorps staff cannot close out grants, extend dates, review, or award a new or continuing grant.

Additionally ASC would note the following: 

• AmeriCorps State and National members funded under FY25 or earlier grants should continue to receive their living allowance and benefits (as applicable) during the funding lapse.
• AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers funded under FY25 or earlier grants should continue to receive their stipend and benefits (as applicable) during the funding lapse.
• AmeriCorps VISTA members that are in standard slots (also known as non cost-share) will have their living allowance accrue as normal, but will not be paid until funding is restored. Members serving in cost-share slots, where their living allowance is paid by non-federal funds, will continue to receive their living stipend as scheduled. VISTA members are expected to keep serving or utilize leave as usual during a funding lapse. VISTAs were last paid on September 26. Their next pay day is October 10. If the funding lapse extends through October 10, VISTAs in non cost-share slots, will be impacted.
• AmeriCorps NCCC members serving in FEMA Corps and Forest Corps will continue to receive their living allowance as scheduled during a funding lapse. AmeriCorps NCCC Traditional members will have their living allowance accrue but will not be paid until funding is appropriated.

Currently serving AmeriCorps members and volunteers should contact their program with questions. AmeriCorps State subgrantee programs should contact their state service commission with questions.

AmeriCorps programs are still recruiting for open positions funded in FY25 and we encourage interested individuals to apply through their local program’s applications or directly on my.AmeriCorps.gov. 

A shutdown severely limits the ability for AmeriCorps grantees and state service commissions to access necessary support from AmeriCorps agency staff including critical grantmaking functions state service commissions and grantees rely on. We hope the funding lapse will be resolved soon to restore full operations at the AmeriCorps agency.

We urge Congress to fund AmeriCorps as proposed in the FY26 Senate Appropriations Labor and Health and Human Services and Related Agencies bill to maintain funding from FY25 funding levels in FY26. We are grateful for the longstanding and continued bipartisan support of state service commissions and AmeriCorps programs.

Individuals can contact their members of Congress to urge continued funding for AmeriCorps in FY26.