War of the unelected judiciary — where is John Roberts? (Other than standing on the sidelines cheering them on)
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mmm, yes, that might be a matter of concern — call me next fall
“JUDGE HALTS TRUMP” IS THE NEW “DOG BITES MAN”:
Judge halts Trump’s proclamation to suspend new international student visas at Harvard hours after university filed amended lawsuit. “The temporary restraining order issued late Thursday by US District Judge Allison Burroughs comes hours after the university urged the judge to step in on an emergency basis to block a proclamation Trump signed a day earlier that suspends international visas for new students at the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university. Foreign students make up roughly a quarter of the school’s student body.”
That one’s petty, but still offensive. The following report, however, provides yet another illustration of far-left judges thwarting all attempts by the Executive branch to effect changes in the agencies it is supposed to have control over, this one, AmeriCorp, being a particularly egregious example of the out-of-control bureaucracy running Washington:
Biden-appointed Federal judge blocks Trump administration’s efforts to gut AmeriCorps
Fraud, waste, bloated bureaucracy. Let’s ask Google’s AI about the Job Corp and it’s horrible history of fraud, mismanagement and administrative bloat:
Search Labs | AI Overview
AmeriCorps, a federal agency promoting volunteerism, has faced criticism for waste, inefficiency, and fraud. These issues have been highlighted in reports, audits, and by government officials, suggesting that the agency's financial records are unreliable and that taxpayer dollars are not being used effectively.
Here's a more detailed look at the concerns:
1. Financial Irregularities and Audits:
AmeriCorps has received negative financial audits, including a "disclaimer of opinion" in the FY 2024 audit, indicating unreliable financial records.
The audit revealed numerous material weaknesses, including issues with internal controls and financial reporting, some of which are recurring.
The agency's financial management has been a recurring concern, as evidenced by multiple audits and reports highlighting these weaknesses.
2. Lack of Oversight and Accountability:
Reports have highlighted a lack of oversight in grant programs, leading to losses due to schemes by recipients.
The agency's troubled relationships with accountability and oversight have been repeatedly exposed, according to one report.
Critics argue that the agency's ability to reform itself and ensure accountability is questionable, according to one report.
3. Concerns about Effectiveness and Impact:
Some studies have raised questions about the effectiveness of AmeriCorps-funded interventions, citing issues like lack of internal validity and inconsistent results.
Critics argue that the agency's mission of volunteerism and community service is not being effectively achieved due to financial issues and inefficiencies.
Concerns have been raised about the duplication of activities and inefficient use of resources in some grant programs, according to the New York Post.
4. Criticisms and Calls for Reform:
Some officials have suggested that AmeriCorps' budget is mismanaged and that the agency is incapable of reforming itself, according to one report.
There have been calls for the agency to be shut down or overhauled due to its alleged history of waste, fraud, and abuse, according to one report.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken steps to cut funding and dismantle certain AmeriCorps programs, raising concerns about the impact on volunteers and communities.
AmeriCorps Fails Eighth Audit, Highlighting Waste
Jan 17, 2025 The Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as AmeriCorps, failed its eighth consecutive financial audit in November, highlighting persistent mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. This pattern of fiscal dysfunction raises serious questions about AmeriCorps’ ability to operate effectively. Lawmakers—and the incoming Donald Trump Administration should prioritize reviewing AmeriCorps’ operations and consider significant reforms, reductions, or even its elimination to ensure responsible stewardship of public funds.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, was established by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 during the Bill Clinton Administration. In FY 2024, it received $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding.
While the “volunteer” mission of this government agency may sound commendable, it has become a financial liability for American taxpayers, rife with waste, fraud, and abuse. Not only does this translate to inefficient use of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, it also means that the aim of volunteerism and community service intended to help Americans in need throughout the country is not being effectively achieved.
The agency’s FY 2024 financial audit, conducted by the public accounting firm RMA Associates, resulted in a “disclaimer of opinion”—a serious red flag indicating that the agency’s financial records are unreliable.
Auditors define a material weakness as “a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the financial statement will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.” A significant deficiency, while less severe, is “a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies . . . important enough to merit the attention of those charged with governance.” The audit uncovered 11 material weaknesses and two significant deficiencies in AmeriCorps’ financial management, a number of which are repeats from years prior, some in modified form:
Material Weaknesses:
Internal Controls Environment (Modified Repeat)
Financial Reporting (Modified Repeat)
General Ledger Adjustments (Modified Repeat)
Undelivered Orders—Grants and Grant Activity (Repeat)
Undelivered Orders—Procurement and Accounts Payable (Repeat)
Trust Obligations and Liability Model (Repeat)
Recoveries of Prior Year Obligations (Repeat)
Grant Processes (Repeat)
Advances from Others (Repeat)
Interface Issues Between Momentum and Oracle (Modified Repeat)
Other Liabilities (Repeat)
Significant Deficiencies:
Information Technology Security Controls (Modified Repeat)
Internal Software Cost (Repeat)
The persistence of these weaknesses and deficiencies demonstrates AmeriCorps’ lack of progression when it comes to financial management. Alarmingly, eight of these material weaknesses consistently appear in annual audits since at least 2017, indicating that many of these problems may continue to linger for years.
Given AmeriCorps’ consistent failure to manage taxpayer dollars appropriately, it is incumbent upon Congress and the upcoming Trump Administration to seriously consider reforming or even abolishing the agency altogether. Termination is not a novel proposal. Indeed the previous Trump administration proposed eliminating AmeriCorps in its 2020 budget.
AmeriCorps’ eighth consecutive failed audit shines light on its inability to serve as a responsible steward of taxpayer funds. If Congress and President-elect Trump seek to eliminate or reform agencies that do not treat tax dollars with the care and respect that they deserve, AmeriCorps ought to be at the top of their list.
And Still More! Committee on Education & the Workforce
AmeriCorps’ Legacy: Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 29, 2023
Ask any emergency dispatch team to describe five-alarm fires, and they will likely say they’re rare and catastrophic no matter where they occur. AmeriCorps is a five-alarm fire of its own making. If you don’t believe us, feel free to peruse the latest Management Challenges report issued on November 15th by the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. What you’ll find is 26 pages chock full of rot and dysfunction.
According to the report, the agency failed to “demonstrate adequate knowledge and understanding of Federal accounting standards and financial reporting requirements, and effective financial management practices.” Financial mismanagement and incompetency are nothing new for AmeriCorps – this has been a problem for decades.
Unmitigated fraud bedevils the agency. The report cites the most prevalent fraud at AmeriCorps to be “falsified or otherwise non-compliant timesheets.” That’s right, volunteers and even the agency’s own members are siphoning off money and making off like robber barons by falsifying their own hours. In two separate cases, AmeriCorps programs at universities in North Carolina submitted falsified timesheets that alleged members worked excessive hours on weekends and holidays. The report also outlines the lack of oversight in the agency’s grant programs, which has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to schemes orchestrated by recipients. AmeriCorps has brought in contractors supposedly to help with their management problems but has no guarantees any positive changes will last when these temporary workers leave.
Here’s the bottom line: AmeriCorps has always been a lost cause. This report adds another chapter to its history of underperformance, waste, fraud, and abuse. Its troubled relationships with accountability and oversight have been laid bare for everyone to see time and time again. President Biden deciding to prop up yet another AmeriCorps program through his “American Climate Corps” plan is the exact opposite of reform. The agency, like many others in the federal government, has proven time and time again that it is incapable of reforming itself, is stealing from hardworking taxpayers, and needs to be shuttered.