One year after the federal American Climate Corps was dismantled ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House, several states have sustained similar environmental service programs through local funding. California and Washington stand out for their ongoing efforts to build green workforces despite national cuts. These initiatives highlight politically viable paths forward for climate-related jobs.
The American Climate Corps, launched under President Joe Biden as a green jobs initiative inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, peaked at 15,000 participants by September 2024. These young people restored landscapes and installed solar panels nationwide. However, the program lasted less than a year, with the Biden administration winding it down in January 2025 to preempt Trump's anticipated dismantling of climate-focused efforts.
Federal disruptions intensified last spring when Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency removed 32,000 AmeriCorps members from roles in tutoring, food banks, and disaster recovery, while placing 85 percent of the agency's 500 staffers on leave. A court later restored $400 million in grants, but many programs, including some climate crews, suffered lasting interruptions.
In California, state funding has preserved momentum. Josh Fryday, who leads GO-Serve under Governor Gavin Newsom, stated, “We’ve stayed the course and are moving forward full steam ahead, and our climate work hasn’t been impacted by the chaos at the federal level.” The California Climate Action Corps now employs about 400 members to fire-proof homes, divert food from landfills, and organize public climate events. The 50-year-old California Conservation Corps continues with over 1,500 members. Yet, even here, AmeriCorps workers aiding Los Angeles fire recovery were sidelined in April, forcing many to seek other employment.
Research published in November showed Climate Corps positions spanned blue and red states, rural and urban areas. Dana Fisher of American University noted, “It speaks to the fact that this kind of work is needed everywhere,” adding, “You can cancel the Climate Corps, but … a lot of what communities need right now has to do with responding to and preparing for climate change-exacerbated extreme events.”
State-specific responses persist elsewhere. In western North Carolina, AmeriCorps members assist Hurricane Helene recovery, clearing debris and restoring trails, according to Briles Johnson of VolunteerNC. Colorado's Governor Jared Polis formed a task force against a mountain pine beetle outbreak worsened by warming and drought; Serve Colorado crews will address it with proposed funding.
Washington's Climate Corps Network, funded by profits from a cap-and-invest program, awarded nearly $1.5 million in 2025 grants to 11 projects, such as estuary restoration and heat preparedness. Director Matt Glazewski called it a “small program, but with lofty goals” for developing a climate workforce. The effort reaches conservative rural areas, including a $200,000 grant to the Port of Pend Oreille for cleaner locomotive engines. Glazewski observed, “You have a community here that is deeply conservative, that is keen on doing this because they know that it makes sense.” Republican state Senator Shelley Short supports the network, demonstrating bipartisan potential when tied to local needs.
