LAFAYETTE, LA — Several AmeriCorps volunteers serving in Lafayette Parish have been abruptly dismissed following a directive from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in accordance with an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump.
The volunteers, part of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program, received official notice on Tuesday afternoon instructing them to return to their home bases, effectively ending their service term just weeks before completion. The directive is part of a broader demobilization effort affecting AmeriCorps NCCC members across the country.
“AmeriCorps NCCC is working within new operational parameters that impact the program’s ability to sustain program operations,” the letter stated. “As a result, AmeriCorps is demobilizing all currently serving NCCC members and returning them to their Homes of Record.”
The news came as a blow to Rebuilding Together Acadiana, a local nonprofit that had hosted the five volunteers since early March. The team had been actively engaged in flood recovery projects, housing repairs, and roof tarp installations in disaster-affected neighborhoods.
“They’ve been a vital resource for us in getting people recovered from disasters, as well as providing safe access to homes,” said Jodee Ware, division director for Rebuilding Together Acadiana. “This decision leaves a significant gap in manpower that will be hard to fill.”
According to Ware, the volunteers were just three weeks away from completing a year-long term of service. The group included young adults from New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois, all of whom were expected to contribute approximately 1,700 hours of community service during their term. Upon completion, volunteers typically receive an education award that can be applied to college tuition or student loans.
Although Rebuilding Together Acadiana’s staff has not been directly affected by the order, the sudden loss of the NCCC team presents a challenge for ongoing recovery efforts in the region.
“We’ve had teams working with us on disaster-ridden homes for years,” Ware said. “The impact NCCC makes is enormous. They are young, enthusiastic, service-oriented people who come in to take care of communities.”
The dismissed volunteers were housed through a partnership with Catholic Charities of Acadiana and had been instrumental in efforts to restore homes damaged by repeated weather events in southern Louisiana.
AmeriCorps NCCC, a federally funded program under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), combines federal and private grant funding to deploy teams of young adults to address critical community needs. The scope and implications of the executive order—and how long the demobilization will remain in effect—remain unclear.