The Trump administration placed most Americorps personnel on administrative leave on Wednesday as part of its latest initiative to streamline government.
Independent agencies operate under federal oversight and offer scholarships to volunteers tackling local, state, and national issues through service initiatives.
Tahmasebi, acting for interim agency Jennifer, stated in an internal email on Wednesday that the staff member will enter a “permitted absence” that will take effect shortly.
“While you are on administrative leave, you must not enter an Americorps facility, access the Americorps system, or utilize your position or authority within Americorps without prior consent or approval from your supervisory chain of command,” Tahmasebi noted.
Only a limited number of employees remain to maintain operations, as reported by Bloomberg. A similar tactic was previously employed to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Tahmasebi’s communication followed the early return of volunteers from the agency’s disaster relief initiative, known as the All-Citizen Community Corps, after a year-long service project.
The suspension raised questions due to worries about unsuccessful government audits and the spending of over $1 billion in taxpayer funds annually, according to administrative officials.
A 2024 Report from the Americorps Inspector General (IG) identified “11 material weaknesses and two significant deficiencies in internal controls regarding Americorps’ financial reporting.” However, according to IG’s website, the funding inquiries listed for better use amounted to $0.
Americorps has not promptly replied to The Hill’s inquiry about the matter.
Officials mentioned that last week, government efficiency (DOGE) staff were observed on the ground.
Doge has advocated for reducing federal waste, fraud, and abuse to curtail spending, aligning with technology leader Elon Musk, who also supported the closure of USAID.
Updated at 10:39pm ET.
