Dear editor:
On Friday, April 25, AmeriCorps programs statewide were informed without notice or cause that DOGE would be terminating their active grants, halting the work being done by AmeriCorps members statewide.
AmeriCorps is a federal agency that promotes national service and volunteerism across the country, think Peace Corps but stateside.
AmeriCorps members have served at more than 100 locations across Wyoming including veterans’ facilities, schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, public lands, and other non-profit and faith-based institutions.
Many of these organizations have as few as 1 employee, and the work provided by AmeriCorps members has supported them in their efforts to provide life-saving medical care, provide rides to the disabled, support local food producers to thrive, and so much more.
The decision to terminate these members illegally and without notice or cause will mean seniors, veterans, children, and people in need of assistance will go without the care and support they have relied on.
In Wyoming, we believe in responsibility, justice and common sense, and to cut off so many organizations that rely on national service members to fulfill their mission is not fiscally responsible, not just, and frankly, not sensical.
AmeriCorps members fill a costly void for organizations providing vital services to their communities.
In addition, AmeriCorps programs are evidence-based and evaluated for effectiveness, and studies show that in Wyoming these programs offer as much as a $40 Return-On-Investment (ROI) here in Wyoming.
We believe in traditions in Wyoming.
AmeriCorps is a shining example of our national tradition, and it's been used to maintain and preserve many of the things we hold dear. Wyoming is also a place where promises mean something.
The AmeriCorps grant is relied upon for a lot of hardworking people to keep their promises to serve others; and it's something that the Congress promised the people through legislative action.
I’d ask Sens. Barrasso and Lummis as well as Congresswoman Hageman, please don't let the executive branch break your promises and to stand up for the authority our founders granted the legislative branch, not the executive.
We have been so fortunate to see support for this programming from our national delegates who have seen the importance of AmeriCorps in Wyoming. They have continually recognized the work done by members to teach, feed, and care for our neighbors. This historical support makes the silence from our state delegates in the wake of massive interference from Washington DC all the more confusing and troubling.
It is my hope that our senators and representatives demonstrate their courage by standing up for the checks and balances that have always governed the decisions made by our federal government.
Sincerely,
Ty Ashton, Casper
