Washington: Staff at AmeriCorps, a US federal community service program, were placed on administrative leave nationwide by the Trump administration on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, employees were informed via a memo from Interim Director Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi that they were being placed on immediate leave. Staff members stated that hundreds were placed on leave, which threatens the agency's partnerships with nonprofits nationwide, leaving only a few senior officials and program heads still active.

The move appeared to be part of US President Donald Trump's broader push to reduce the size of the federal government. This downsizing effort is spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who heads the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

On Tuesday, six volunteers from the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program were abruptly sent home after a week of service due to funding cuts. These volunteers were engaged in projects like planting trees and building a retaining wall at a local refuge.

Almost half of the 600 employees of AmeriCorps accepted the administration's deferred resignations. Earlier this week, 1,500 NCCC volunteers were let go, impacting disaster relief and other services nationwide. The cuts will affect programs like Senior Companions, which aids elderly individuals, and Foster Grandparents, which pairs retirees with children with special needs.