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TELLURIDE, Colo. — Hundreds of Colorado-based AmeriCorps members had their service years abruptly cut short last week as the Trump administration announced sweeping reductions to the longstanding federal service program.

Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said the cuts are “devastating” to Colorado, which hosts more than 6,500 AmeriCorps members across the state each year.

“It’ll have a devastating effect. Because sometimes in rural Colorado these are the only people serving,” Primavera said. “So some not-for-profits may have to close their doors, kids would be not able to finish their year, and it would have a devastating effect on rural communities.”

In Colorado, AmeriCorps members provide critical services in schools, public lands, and nonprofit organizations. While a typical service term lasts about a year, the recent federal funding cuts have left many members in limbo.

“They serve because they have a heart for service and a passion for service,” Primavera said. “I’ve been on AmeriCorps sites across the state and I’ve talked to AmeriCorps members who say that their service was actually life-changing. I’ve talked to people that the AmeriCorps members have served, and you know, some of the kids wouldn’t have even gone back to school.”

Juan Fernandez, executive director of the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC), an AmeriCorps-funded conservation program, said the cuts will directly affect public lands and forest health.

“As the funding goes away, the priorities come into focus as far as, well, we have to do fire mitigation, so what’s going to suffer?” Fernandez said. “And that usually is the trail building, the trail restoration, and a lot of times, especially with our federal partners, that means trail closures.”

In Telluride, SCC crews contributed to trail reroutes at Magic Meadows, the Valley Floor and Deep Creek, among others.

Colorado has more than 800 AmeriCorps service sites and receives approximately $54 million annually in federal funding for programming. Primavera said the benefits of AmeriCorps programs ripple through communities.

“We heard a story about a youth mental health corps member who sat down with a mom and their daughter, and they were both survivors of gang violence and their daughter was struggling to just show up at school,” Primavera said. “But thanks to the AmeriCorps member, they were enrolled in therapy, they were enrolled in tutoring and Saturday school, and now they’re on a path to success. Not only is it life-changing to the member, it’s life-changing to the person they serve and it’s life-changing for the community, actually. So it’s a win-win-win for everybody.”

In response to the cuts, Colorado joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that only Congress has the authority to reduce AmeriCorps funding. A hearing is scheduled for May 19.

“We’re hoping that we get immediate relief with an immediate injunction, so that’s really what we’re focused on right now,” Primavera said.

She emphasized that now is not the time to reduce investment in national service programs.

“There’s so much need with our conservation, our forest health, with our academic gaps, youth mental health issues,” Primavera said. “This isn’t the time to cut programs that really give back more than they get. It’s really time to double down on the money we get.”

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, every $1 spent on AmeriCorps efforts in Colorado returns up to $34 in value to local communities.