Newsom Fights Back as AmeriCorps Shutdown Threatens Vital Services in Black Communities
Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing the federal government over its decision to dismantle AmeriCorps, a move that puts essential frontline services in Black and Brown communities across California at risk, the Governor’s office said.
From tutoring students and mentoring foster youth to disaster recovery and community rebuilding, AmeriCorps has been a backbone of support for many communities across California.
“When wildfires devastated L.A. earlier this year, it was AmeriCorps members out there helping families recover,” Newsom said when he announced the lawsuit on April 17. “And now the federal government wants to pull the plug? We’re not having it.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration is behind the rollback, which Newsom calls “a middle finger to volunteers.”
Meanwhile, Newsom’s office announced that the state is expanding the California Service Corps, the nation’s largest state-run service program.
AmeriCorps has provided pathways for thousands of young people to gain job experience, give back, and uplift underserved neighborhoods. Last year alone, over 6,000 members across the state logged 4.4 million hours, tutoring more than 73,000 students, planting trees, supporting foster youth, and helping fire-impacted families.
The California Service Corps includes four paid branches: the
#CaliforniansForAll College Corps, Youth Service Corps, California Climate Action Corps, and AmeriCorps California. Together, they’re larger than the Peace Corps and are working on everything from academic recovery to climate justice.
“DOGE’s actions aren’t about making government work better. They are about making communities weaker,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday.
“These actions will dismantle vital lifelines in communities across California. AmeriCorps members are out in the field teaching children to read, supporting seniors and helping families recover after disasters. AmeriCorps is not bureaucracy; it’s boots on the ground,” he said.
Bonta Commits to Fighting Trump Admin Social Security Cuts
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is pushing back against federal policies that make it harder for millions of Americans, especially seniors and people with disabilities, to access Social Security Administration (SSA) services.
Last week, Bonta joined 20 attorneys general in filing a legal brief against the Trump Administration and its controversial Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), which has slashed Social Security staffing, shut down field offices, and introduced chaotic policy changes.
For many Black Californians, Social Security is a lifeline — whether it’s helping aging parents cover rent, providing disability support for family members, or connecting folks to health insurance through Medicaid. But with field offices closing and wait times rising, these basic needs are becoming harder to meet.
“This is about protecting our elders, our disabled neighbors, and everyone who relies on Social Security to survive,” said Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s reckless actions have made a broken system worse — and we won’t let that stand.”
Since DOGE’s changes, advocates say call wait times have nearly doubled, online services are crashing, and seniors who don’t use social media are being told to check for updates on the social media platform X, which is owned by DOGE head Elon Musk. Field offices are being also being shut down even in rural areas where Black seniors already have to travel miles to get help, the advocates say.
Bonta’s office has launched a new website where Californians can report disruptions in SSA services. This legal action is just one of many efforts to protect the rights, dignity, and survival of California’s most vulnerable.
Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Amid Housing Crisis
As California’s housing crisis continues impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of the AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.
“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.
The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.
Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.
However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight.
But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action. “If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.
