Episode 4: Breaking the Backbone of Service: The Attack on AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps has been the quiet backbone of American resilience — from disaster recovery to education, to fighting hunger, homelessness, and isolation. But today, it’s under direct attack.

On this episode of Breaking Barriers, Angel Heaven Lee exposes the devastating dismantling of AmeriCorps by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a move that has abruptly cut service for tens of thousands of members and gutted over a thousand community organizations.

This isn’t just about losing service hours. It’s about losing community, hope, and our nation’s ability to care for its most vulnerable.

Angel breaks down what’s happening, why AmeriCorps matters more than ever, who will be hit hardest — and most importantly, how you can fight back.

📞 Find your members of Congress at Congress.gov

Email your Members of Congress TODAY using this Contact Congress email tool. There’s an updated letter to reflect these new developments, so if you’ve already sent a letter in the last week, you can send another one to your lawmakers now

Call your lawmakers TODAY using this handy call script and instructions. This is an important way to share more about your personal experience with AmeriCorps as an alumni, supporter, or program partner.

📢 Call them. Email them. Demand they protect AmeriCorps.

If you want to share how you feel about them cancelling this program, you can also send them a message here: https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

If you want to be connected easily, you can call the Capitol switchboard and ask for your Senator or Representative directly:

House of Representatives: [phone]
Senate: [phone]

When you call, keep it simple, but powerful. Here’s a sample script you can use:

"Good morning/afternoon. My name is [Name], and I’m a constituent from [City, State]. I’m calling to urge [Representative/Senator Name] to oppose any efforts to dismantle AmeriCorps. Ending these programs would devastate our communities by stripping away critical services and support systems that millions of Americans rely on. AmeriCorps strengthens disaster recovery, education, veteran support, and so much more. We need AmeriCorps now more than ever. Please stand with your constituents and protect AmeriCorps."

Remember, when a community falls, we all fall.

Stay loud. Stay fighting. Stay breaking those barriers.

#SaveAmeriCorps #CommunityPower #BreakingBarriersWithAngelHeavenLee