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Utah A.G. Brown Pushes FCC to Strengthen 'Know Your Upstream Provider' Rules to Combat Illegal Robocalls
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 12 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news:
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Attorney General Brown pushes FCC to strengthen "Know Your Upstream Provider" rules to combat illegal robocalls
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Attorney General Derek Brown and a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen its "Know Your Upstream Provider" (KYUP) requirements to keep scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal robocalls. KYUP rules require voice service providers to accept calls only from legitimate,
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 12 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news:
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Attorney General Brown pushes FCC to strengthen "Know Your Upstream Provider" rules to combat illegal robocalls
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Attorney General Derek Brown and a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen its "Know Your Upstream Provider" (KYUP) requirements to keep scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal robocalls. KYUP rules require voice service providers to accept calls only from legitimate,responsible providers, not wave through the bulk of illegal traffic instead.
"Every annoying robocall you receive is supposed to be checked by a cell phone provider whose job it is to know who they are doing business with. Increasingly, that critical check is not happening, and the bad actors know it -- and exploit it," said Attorney General Brown. "We want the FCC to make this check more robust, make the penalties real, and make it much harder for these bad actors to hide."
A phone call travels through a series of phone companies before it reaches your phone, and the FCC requires each voice service provider to take reasonable measures to vet the companies that originate and route those calls. Some skip that step, letting illegal robocalls onto the network. Last year, Americans received more than 29.6 billion scam robocalls and texts and lost nearly $2 billion to these scams.
The attorneys general ask the FCC to:
* Mandate baseline KYUP measures. Require providers to collect detailed, verified information from their upstream provider customers, vet those providers' compliance more thoroughly, monitor them regularly, and cut off any that break the law.
* Add triggers for KYUP monitoring. Providers now generally review an upstream provider only at contract signing or renewal, or on evidence of illegal activity. The FCC should require monitoring more regularly, so bad actors cannot operate unchecked.
* Strengthen STIR/SHAKEN protections. Under the anti-spoofing framework, the FCC should ensure every provider knows and meets its caller ID authentication obligations, and that everyone responsible for verifying a call's true origin applies the rules the same way.
* Move quickly and add teeth. Implement new rules as soon as possible, set base penalties for providers that fall short, and require providers to retain KYUP data so law enforcement and attorneys general can use it in future investigations.
Attorney General Brown is part of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, which launched Operation Robocall Roundup in 2025. In phase 1, the task force sent warning letters to 37 smaller providers for failing to meet baseline FCC mandates. Two weeks ago, the FCC ordered six of them to fix their robocall failures or risk losing the ability to route calls nationwide. In phase 2, the task force expanded the effort to four of the country's largest intermediate providers and pushed the FCC to tighten its Know Your Customer rules.
Attorney General Brown is joined in signing this letter by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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Original text here: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/attorney-general-brown-fcc-robocall-rules/
Statement From Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., the Board of Regents, and Commissioner Betty A. Rosa on the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001
ALBANY, New York, Sept. 12 -- The New York State Education Department issued the following news release:
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Statement From Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., the Board of Regents, and Commissioner Betty A. Rosa on the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001
"Twenty-five years ago, our nation, and New York in particular, was forever changed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken that day, as well as the more than 9,000 individuals who have since died from conditions linked to 9/11 exposure. We honor the extraordinary courage of the first
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ALBANY, New York, Sept. 12 -- The New York State Education Department issued the following news release:
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Statement From Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., the Board of Regents, and Commissioner Betty A. Rosa on the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001
"Twenty-five years ago, our nation, and New York in particular, was forever changed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken that day, as well as the more than 9,000 individuals who have since died from conditions linked to 9/11 exposure. We honor the extraordinary courage of the firstresponders and everyday New Yorkers who ran toward danger to help others, and we recognize all those who continue to carry the physical and emotional consequences of that day.
We also honor the educators who faced an unimaginable responsibility in the hours and days that followed. In classrooms across New York, teachers, counselors, school leaders, and staff comforted frightened students, helped young people make sense of the incomprehensible, and provided stability and reassurance at a moment of profound uncertainty. Their compassion and steadiness reflected the very best of the education profession.
That same spirit of service was demonstrated by countless licensed professionals across New York, including many of the health and mental health professionals whose professions are overseen by the State Education Department's Office of the Professions. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and others responded in the immediate aftermath and continued to care for survivors, families, first responders, and communities in the difficult days and years that followed. Their service remains an enduring part of the story of September 11.
As September 11 moves further into history, fewer of today's students have a personal connection to that day. That makes our responsibility to teach its history all the more important. Students should understand not only what happened on September 11, but also the lives that were lost, the heroism and sacrifice that followed, and the ways those events shaped our state, our nation, and our world.
Through education, we preserve the memory of those who came before us and ensure that the lessons of September 11 are not lost to time. By teaching them with care, honesty, and reverence, we honor those whose lives were lost or forever changed, while helping future generations understand their responsibility to remember, learn, and carry those lessons forward.
On this 25th anniversary, may we never forget those we lost, remain grateful to those who served and sacrificed, and recommit ourselves to building a future defined not by the hatred that caused such devastation, but by the courage, compassion, unity, and humanity that emerged in response."
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Original text here: https://www.nysed.gov/news/2026/statement-chancellor-lester-w-young-jr-board-regents-and-commissioner-betty-rosa-25th
N.Y. Agriculture Dept. Seeking Input for a Program Supporting Disadvantaged Farmers
ALBANY, New York, Sept. 12 -- The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the following news on Sept. 11, 2026:
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State Agriculture Department Seeking Input for a Program Supporting Disadvantaged Farmers
Letter of Interest for the Administration of the $2 Million Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program Due October 07,2026
Additional Information Available at agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities
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New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that the Department of Agriculture and Markets is now accepting letters of
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ALBANY, New York, Sept. 12 -- The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the following news on Sept. 11, 2026:
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State Agriculture Department Seeking Input for a Program Supporting Disadvantaged Farmers
Letter of Interest for the Administration of the $2 Million Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program Due October 07,2026
Additional Information Available at agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities
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New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that the Department of Agriculture and Markets is now accepting letters ofinterest from prospective program administrators with experience working with or representing socially and economically disadvantaged farmers for Round 3 of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program. The grant program aims to expand opportunities to farmers who are less likely to enter or succeed in the agricultural field, due to discrimination and the inability to access resources. Funding for the program was provided in the New York State Budget and builds on the State's work to expand opportunities in agriculture to more New Yorkers.
"This is a great opportunity for entities to play a direct role in helping our agricultural industry grow," Commissioner Ball said. "I encourage all eligible entities to take advantage of the opportunity to administer the third round of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program and help provide farmers across our state with the funding they need to start or improve their business."
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program (RFI 0431)
The Department is seeking input from organizations that can provide financial assistance, including capital assistance, to grant awardees to ensure effective distribution of grant funds. Entities eligible to administer Round 3 of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program include municipalities, public benefit corporations, local development corporations, or not-for-profit organizations. The RFI is not a solicitation of actual proposals to administer this program. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be published on a later date. Responding to this RFI is not a prerequisite to submitting a proposal in response to any future RFP and will not result in a contract.
The selected Program Administrator will administer the $2 million third round of the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program, which was funded in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 New York State Budget to assist farmers who face disproportionate barriers to success due to discrimination. The selected administrator will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, on a competitive basis to eligible socially and economically disadvantaged farmers who will materially and substantially participate in operating a farm within a region of the state. This may include urban farmers. Grants will be awarded to start up, improve or expand farm operations; provide worker or apprenticeship training; purchase agricultural land, infrastructure, equipment, or livestock; and more.
Socially disadvantaged individuals include those who have been subject to discrimination due to their race or ethnicity, including those who identify as Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander. Economically disadvantaged farmers are socially disadvantaged individuals whose farming opportunities have been hindered due to diminished capital, credit opportunities, or access to land, among other things, as compared to other similarly situated individuals who are not socially disadvantaged.
For more information about this opportunity, visit agriculture.ny.gov/rfi-0431-program-administrator-round-3-socially-and-economically-disadvantaged-farmers-competitive. Letters of Interest must be received by the Department by October 07, 2026.
The Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program offers support to New York farmers who face disproportionate social and economic barriers to success. Opening doors to all farmers is a critical piece of New York's agricultural landscape that will help ensure a strong, diverse, and well-supported agricultural future.
This program builds on Governor Kathy Hochul's pledge to strengthen New York agriculture by building a strong agricultural workforce pipeline and increasing access to careers in agriculture for all New Yorkers. This includes efforts like the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program; continued funding for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS); and dedicated funding committed in New York State's Fiscal Year 2026-27 Enacted Budget to advance New York's agricultural workforce. In addition, the Governor dedicated $30 million to the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program to provide relief to farmers impacted by federal tariffs, reinforcing New York's commitment to the agricultural community while safeguarding local jobs and ensuring farmers have the certainty needed to compete in a changing global marketplace.
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Original text here: https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/state-agriculture-department-seeking-input-program-supporting-disadvantaged-farmers
N.M. Higher Education Dept.: State Expands Food Security Support for College Students Statewide
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Sept. 12 -- The New Mexico Department of Higher Education issued the following news release:
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State expands food security support for college students statewide
SANTA FE -- Twenty-eight public and tribal colleges and universities across New Mexico are expanding food pantries, emergency meals and other basic needs support for students, backed by $586,000 in new funding from the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department is investing in student success beyond the cost of tuition through its FY26 Food Security Bridge Fund. By
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, Sept. 12 -- The New Mexico Department of Higher Education issued the following news release:
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State expands food security support for college students statewide
SANTA FE -- Twenty-eight public and tribal colleges and universities across New Mexico are expanding food pantries, emergency meals and other basic needs support for students, backed by $586,000 in new funding from the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department is investing in student success beyond the cost of tuition through its FY26 Food Security Bridge Fund. Byexpanding food pantries, meal assistance, access to fresh foods, and other basic needs supports, campuses can reduce the stigma of asking for help and create communities where students know that meeting their basic needs is not an exception or a privilege, but part of an environment designed to help every student learn and thrive.
"Tuition-free college is the foundational first step to making higher education more accessible, but we know that affordability does not end with tuition," said Higher Education Deputy Secretary Patricia Trujillo, Ph.D. "Students should not have to choose between their education and their next meal. This funding will help campuses strengthen food security for students who need support most, while building a campus culture in which accessing nutritious food and basic needs resources is a normal and accepted part of the college experience."
The Food Security Bridge Fund supports a range of campus-based solutions tailored to the needs of students and their communities. Projects include expanding food pantry inventories, purchasing refrigeration and other equipment, increasing access to fresh and locally sourced food, providing hot and grab-and-go meals, offering nutrition education and expanding access to hygiene and household supplies.
Across the state, colleges and universities are using the funding to strengthen existing programs while creating new ways for students to access nutritious food and other essential resources with dignity and without stigma.
Funded projects include:
* Clovis Community College will dedicate funding to direct food purchases for its Campus Cabinet, increasing the availability of staple and protein-rich foods and preparing for periods of increased need at the beginning of semesters and before academic breaks.
* Central New Mexico Community College will expand access to fresh, nutritious produce through its partnership with MoGro, allowing the campus food pantries to provide more locally sourced produce bags to students.
* Dine College will expand its Warrior Chiyaan Bee Nihizdzil, or "We are Stronger with Food," Student Food Pantry, providing monthly food baskets, pantry items and nutrition and health workshops across its New Mexico locations.
* Eastern New Mexico University will strengthen its Campus Life Resource Closet by purchasing food and essential equipment, including refrigeration and storage, while sourcing much of its food from local farmers and ranchers.
* Institute of American Indian Arts will expand access to healthy foods while strengthening food storage and preparation infrastructure and incorporating Indigenous food systems, recipes and food preparation into student programming.
* New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will expand its food pantry's dry and cold storage capacity, increasing access to protein-rich foods and improving inventory management as the pantry joins the Roadrunner Food Bank network.
* New Mexico State University will expand food security services through projects that increase access to fresh food, improve pantry infrastructure, expand emergency food support, develop a campus garden, and provide nutrition education.
* San Juan College will improve pantry inventory management while increasing access to high-demand staples, fresh proteins and healthy grab-and-go foods through its Trail Blaze Cupboard.
* University of New Mexico will expand pantry storage and refrigeration, create a warm-meal preparation station, and increase access to culturally responsive and nutritionally balanced foods.
* Santa Fe Community College will strengthen its Campus Cupboard and Exchange by expanding access to produce, healthier snacks, ready-to-eat meals and other basic needs resources while building partnerships with local food organizations.
* Southeastern New Mexico Community College will expand nutritious food access, pantry hours, refrigeration and storage while connecting students with farmers' market vouchers, SNAP information and healthy cooking resources.
Through the Food Security Bridge Fund, NMHED is supporting colleges and universities in building stronger, more sustainable systems of support so students can spend less time worrying about where their next meal will come from and more time pursuing their education.
For more information about the New Mexico Higher Education Department and its programs, visit hed.nm.gov. To learn more about tuition-free college opportunities through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, visit ReachHigherNM.com.
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Original text here: https://hed.nm.gov/news/state-expands-food-security-support-for-college-students-statewide
N.J. A.G. Davenport Welcomes Resolution of AmeriCorps Lawsuit
TRENTON, New Jersey, Sept. 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release:
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AG Davenport Welcomes Resolution of AmeriCorps Lawsuit
TRENTON - Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, has reached a settlement that bars the Trump Administration from seeking to cut almost all funding from the AmeriCorps program again without warning.
The deal resolves a 2025 lawsuit filed in response to the Administration's repeated attempts to gut the nation's volunteer service programs. Previously, as a
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TRENTON, New Jersey, Sept. 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release:
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AG Davenport Welcomes Resolution of AmeriCorps Lawsuit
TRENTON - Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, has reached a settlement that bars the Trump Administration from seeking to cut almost all funding from the AmeriCorps program again without warning.
The deal resolves a 2025 lawsuit filed in response to the Administration's repeated attempts to gut the nation's volunteer service programs. Previously, as aresult of the lawsuit, the Trump Administration was forced to reinstate nearly $400 million in terminated AmeriCorps programs and agreed to release over $184 million in funds to service programs in across the country. The cuts prevented by the lawsuit had threatened the survival of those programs--including more than $6.6 million in funds for AmeriCorps programs in New Jersey. This settlement protects the funding and participants of those programs for fiscal year 2026 as well.
"AmeriCorps members are indispensable to organizations across New Jersey, working as critical volunteers in our communities," said Attorney General Davenport. "While this disruption never should have happened in the first place, I am pleased that by uniting together, states were able to not only stop these unannounced and drastic cuts to these important programs, but also to take steps to prevent this from happening again."
In New Jersey, AmeriCorps members support a wide variety of programs, including recovery programs for individuals who have experienced addiction, educational programs for adults learning English, academic mentoring programs for children with special needs, maintaining parks and green spaces in urban areas, and disaster recovery and relief programs.
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs. Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.
In April 2025, the Trump Administration moved to eliminate nearly 90% of AmeriCorps' workforce, cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. The coalition states sued and in June 2025, a federal court granted the states' motion for a preliminary injunction requiring the administration to reinstate programs that had been unlawfully canceled. Then in August 2025, following a further motion for preliminary injunction by the coalition, the federal Office of Management and Budget agreed to release more than $184 million in AmeriCorps funding it had withheld.
Now, under the terms of this settlement, AmeriCorps states that moving forward it does not anticipate that, during fiscal year 2026, it will terminate grants on a large scale as it did in spring 2025, conduct reductions in force of union employees beyond certain previously planned cuts, or dismiss a large number of AmeriCorps service members. Should AmeriCorps take any of those actions, or make a material change to its delivery of volunteer services, it must provide the coalition states with written notice at least 30 days in advance and identify the legal authority under which it is taking the action.
AmeriCorps has also agreed to commit substantially all of its fiscal year 2026 funding by September 30, 2026, and to administer its National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and AmeriCorps VISTA programs in accordance with the federal statutes that govern them. Under the settlement, AmeriCorps may not disrupt the current terms of service of NCCC or VISTA participants, except under specific, lawful circumstances detailed in the settlement.
The settlement pauses the litigation through February 1, 2027, at which point the states will voluntarily dismiss the case without prejudice, provided AmeriCorps has complied with its commitments. Should the states determine that AmeriCorps has not complied, they may move the court to lift the stay and resume litigation. The states also retain the right to challenge other unlawful conduct by AmeriCorps, whether through an amended complaint during the stay or a new action during or after the stay.
Attorney General Davenport was joined in the settlement by the attorneys general of Maryland, California, Colorado, and Delaware, which co-led the coalition, along with Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Joint Motion to Stay (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-0910_0228-Joint-Motion-to-Stay.pdf) | Settlement Agreement (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-0910_FINAL-AmeriCorps-Settlement-Agreement.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-welcomes-resolution-of-americorps-lawsuit/
MDC Welcomes New Conservation Educator to Boone County
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Sept. 12 -- The Missouri Department of Conservation issued the following news:
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MDC welcomes new conservation educator to Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) welcomes a new conservation educator to mid-Missouri. In his new role, J.R. Royston will work with educators in Boone County to introduce students to conservation. Royston brings a variety of education and natural resources experience to MDC, and he started as a conservation educator on Sept. 1.
J.R. holds a bachelor's degree in education from Central Methodist University
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Sept. 12 -- The Missouri Department of Conservation issued the following news:
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MDC welcomes new conservation educator to Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) welcomes a new conservation educator to mid-Missouri. In his new role, J.R. Royston will work with educators in Boone County to introduce students to conservation. Royston brings a variety of education and natural resources experience to MDC, and he started as a conservation educator on Sept. 1.
J.R. holds a bachelor's degree in education from Central Methodist Universityand a master's degree in secondary administration from William Woods University. He previously served as an admissions representative at State Technical College of Missouri in Linn and as a science teacher with Jefferson City Public Schools and Harrisburg R-VIII. He joined MDC as a resource management technician before moving into his current role.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to bring outdoor experiences to the residents of Boone County," said Royston. "Being a conservation educator really excites me because it combines my background in public education and resource management into one role."
Royston will primarily serve Boone County and the Boone County Nature School and can be reached at jr.royston@mdc.mo.gov.
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Original text here: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-welcomes-new-conservation-educator-boone-county
Gov. Shapiro Administration and Multi-State Coalition Secure Settlement Blocking Trump Administration From Future Efforts to Dismantle AmeriCorps
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Sept. 12 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Sept. 11, 2026:
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Shapiro Administration and Multi-State Coalition Secure Settlement Blocking Trump Administration from Future Efforts to Dismantle AmeriCorps
Today's settlement protects approximately $16 million in critical funding Pennsylvania relies on each year to respond to natural disasters, teach our children and support our seniors.
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Harrisburg, PA - Governor Josh Shapiro today announced that, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, Pennsylvania
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Sept. 12 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Sept. 11, 2026:
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Shapiro Administration and Multi-State Coalition Secure Settlement Blocking Trump Administration from Future Efforts to Dismantle AmeriCorps
Today's settlement protects approximately $16 million in critical funding Pennsylvania relies on each year to respond to natural disasters, teach our children and support our seniors.
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Harrisburg, PA - Governor Josh Shapiro today announced that, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, Pennsylvaniahas secured a settlement that stops the Trump Administration from dismantling AmeriCorps without warning in the future.
The deal resolves a lawsuit brought by Governor Shapiro and a multi-state coalition in response to the Trump Administration's repeated attempts to gut the nation's volunteer service programs. Governor Shapiro sued the federal government over their unconstitutional decision to abruptly dismantle AmeriCorps funding(opens in a new tab), and as a result of the lawsuit, the Trump Administration was forced to reinstate nearly $400 million in terminated AmeriCorps programs and agreed to release over $184 million in funds owed to service programs across the country, including Pennsylvania. This settlement protects the funding and participants of those programs for Fiscal Year 2026 as well.
"When the Trump Administration tried to rip vital AmeriCorps funding from Pennsylvania last year, I took them to court and won, protecting critical funding the Commonwealth relies on to help communities respond to natural disasters, support seniors and veterans, keep our trails clean, and teach children to read," said Governor Shapiro. "The federal government made a commitment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support these programs. It's my job as Governor to protect the interest of Pennsylvania taxpayers - and this settlement agreement ensures that these programs are protected for another year."
The current AmeriCorps programs in Pennsylvania have already made substantial contributions across the Commonwealth and are the driving force behind dozens of community services. Between July 2024 and January 2025:
* 209 schools benefited from direct AmeriCorps support, including tutoring, mentoring, and 40,146 children and youth received supportive services;
* 1,152 community volunteers were recruited, trained, and coordinated, contributing over 19,400 hours of service;
* 1,458 Pennsylvanians received job readiness or skills training to strengthen local economies;
110 veterans and 40 veteran family members were supported through targeted service projects; and
* 242 acres of public land were restored or maintained, bolstering Pennsylvania's community assets.
AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs. Organizations rely on support from AmeriCorps to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members nationwide.
Operating under the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), PennSERVE is the grantmaking partner of AmeriCorps in the Commonwealth and operates as Pennsylvania's state service commission. PennSERVE distributes around $16 million annually in federal money from AmeriCorps to 28 vital programs and, at the time of the federal government's notice of termination, had 655 active AmeriCorps members serving at 248 host sites in 41 counties throughout Pennsylvania. Impacted programs included the Boys and Girls Club, City Year, and Teach for America, among others.
"PennSERVE programs harness the power of national service to address critical local challenges and focus on key areas such as economic opportunity, education, veterans, and military families," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "We are grateful Governor Shapiro took action so that PennSERVE can continue its work to improve Pennsylvanians' lives."
Under the terms of the settlement, AmeriCorps states that it does not anticipate that, during Fiscal Year 2026, it will terminate grants en masse as it did in Spring 2025, conduct reductions in force of union employees beyond certain previously planned cuts, or dismiss AmeriCorps service members en masse. Should AmeriCorps take any of those actions, or make a material change to its delivery of volunteer services, it must provide the coalition states with written notice at least 30 days in advance and identify the legal authority under which it is taking the action.
The settlement pauses the litigation through February 1, 2027, at which point the coalition will voluntarily dismiss the case without prejudice, provided AmeriCorps has complied with its commitments. Should the coalition determine that AmeriCorps has not complied, it may move the court to lift the stay and resume litigation. The coalition also retains the right to challenge other unlawful conduct by AmeriCorps, whether through an amended complaint during the stay or a new action during or after the stay.
The coalition initiated the litigation in April 2025, after the Trump Administration moved to eliminate nearly 90 percent of AmeriCorps' workforce, cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. In June 2025, a federal court granted the coalition's motion for a preliminary injunction requiring the Administration to reinstate programs that had been unlawfully canceled. Then in August 2025, following a further motion for preliminary injunction by the coalition, the federal Office of Management and Budget agreed to release more than $184 million in AmeriCorps funding it had withheld.
The settlement, co-led by the attorneys general of Maryland, California, Colorado, and Delaware, is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the governor of Kentucky.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/shapiro-admin--multi-state-coalition-block-trump-admin-from-dism
