America's Service Commissions Statement on Impact of Ongoing FY26 Federal Funding Lapse
As we enter the 10th day of the federal funding lapse for FY26, we are compelled to call attention to the AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps NCCC members who will not receive their full bi-monthly living stipend today.
VISTA members in Standard (non-cost share) slots and AmeriCorps NCCC members in a Traditional Corps have their living stipend accrue but are not paid for days served during a federal funding lapse. Members continue to report to service during this time.
VISTA and NCCC members receive a modest living stipend while serving at their sponsor and project sites, addressing a wide range of community needs, including food insecurity, veteran services, and disaster response. Living expenses for these AmeriCorps members, such as food, car insurance, and cell phone costs, do not subside due to the shutdown.
AmeriCorps State and National members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, AmeriCorps VISTAs in cost-share slots, and AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps and FEMA Corps are not directly impacted, as the funding for their stipends are not impacted by the shutdown. Additionally, while some grantmaking activities are delayed due to federal AmeriCorps agency staff being furloughed, state service commissions continue to operate and support their program operations.
As shared in our initial statement, 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 levels from FY25 in FY26. We are grateful for the longstanding and continued bipartisan support of state service commissions and AmeriCorps programs. |
