AmeriCorps cuts impact rural North Dakota schools, communities

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency eliminated about $400 million in AmeriCorps grants in April, affecting several programs in North Dakota that served rural schools and communities, according to reporting by the North Dakota News Cooperative.

In Elgin-New Leipzig, the elimination of federal support for AmeriCorps participants has left schools without key paraprofessionals, who helped students with reading and math. The cuts also have affected child-care programs and community-building efforts. Local leaders have expressed confusion over the decisions, citing cost-effective programs being cut while others remained intact. The future of AmeriCorps funding in North Dakota remains uncertain.