# Trump’s DOGE Cuts AmeriCorps Programs in Connecticut, Affecting Hundreds of Service Workers
In a shocking development that has rippled through Connecticut’s service sector, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has abruptly terminated numerous AmeriCorps programs throughout the state.
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The cuts have affected 184 AmeriCorps members in Connecticut who were serving in various capacities from educational support to environmental conservation.
Local leaders, including Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong, have responded forcefully to these cuts.
Legal action is now underway to challenge what many see as a devastating blow to community service initiatives.
The Sudden Impact on Connecticut Communities
The cuts came without warning, leaving many service workers unable to properly conclude their programs.
In Willimantic, Makayla Field, who led an AmeriCorps Jumpstart team in local preschools, was forced to inform her team that their program had been terminated without the opportunity to say goodbye to the children they served.
Similar scenes played out across communities in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport.
AmeriCorps members have been integral to supporting underserved populations in these areas.
Scope of the Cuts
The elimination of these programs is part of a larger dismantling that affects a national network of 200,000 AmeriCorps members serving in 35,000 locations.
In Connecticut alone, the cuts impact state-administered AmeriCorps programs and senior volunteer initiatives.
The reduction also coincided with the reduction of 85% of the federal workforce overseeing these programs.
Programs in Waterbury and Stamford that focused on educational support for disadvantaged youth were among those suddenly shuttered.
Connecticut’s Official Response
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has taken decisive action by joining a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Tong characterized the cuts as “irrational, cruel and lawless,” highlighting the essential services these programs provide to vulnerable communities in towns like Danbury and Norwich.
Governor’s Support for AmeriCorps
Governor Ned Lamont has expressed unwavering support for AmeriCorps, emphasizing the program’s significant positive impact on Connecticut communities.
The Governor criticized DOGE’s actions as undermining valuable services that benefit both the state’s residents and the AmeriCorps members who gain valuable experience while earning between $18,700 and $37,400 over their 10-12 month service periods.
The Value of AmeriCorps to Connecticut
AmeriCorps has long provided young people with opportunities to:
In Middletown and across the state, AmeriCorps members have worked in schools, community centers, and environmental projects.
Many program alumni have gone on to careers in education, social services, and public administration, citing their AmeriCorps experience as transformative.
Uncertain Future
While some programs and employees have been reinstated following court challenges, significant uncertainty remains for many Connecticut service initiatives.
AmeriCorps members and alumni have been vocal about the importance of their work. They are calling on lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to uphold the values of service and community that these programs embody.
As the legal battles continue, Connecticut officials work to mitigate the damage. Communities across the state from Greenwich to New London are feeling the impact of these sudden program terminations.
Here is the source article for this story: CT AmeriCorps programs shut down by Trump administration cuts
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