State climate programs survive federal cuts as american climate corps legacy lives on

The American Climate Corps, which employed 15,000 young Americans in green jobs by September 2024, was quietly shut down by the Biden administration in January 2025 before President Trump took office. However, several states have found ways to continue climate service work despite the loss of federal support and subsequent cuts to AmeriCorps programs that eliminated 32,000 positions nationwide.

California leads the survivors with its Climate Action Corps, employing 400 members in wildfire prevention, food waste reduction, and community climate organizing—all funded by state resources rather than federal grants. “We’ve stayed the course and are moving forward full steam ahead,” said Josh Fryday, who runs Governor Gavin Newsom’s service office. The Golden State benefits from both political will and financial resources to weather federal funding droughts.

Other states are getting creative with funding mechanisms. Washington state powers its Climate Corps Network through profits from its cap-and-invest carbon pricing program, awarding $1.5 million in grants to 11 projects in 2025. Program director Matt Glazewski has found success building bipartisan support by focusing on local economic benefits rather than climate rhetoric—including a $200,000 grant to convert diesel locomotives in conservative Pend Oreille County.

Research shows the original Climate Corps reached both red and blue states, reflecting universal need for climate resilience work. As extreme weather events continue, states like North Carolina maintain AmeriCorps crews for hurricane recovery, while Colorado creates new conservation programs to combat beetle infestations killing drought-stressed forests. While federal climate programs face uncertainty, state-level initiatives demonstrate that environmental service work can thrive when tailored to local priorities and funding sources.