Colorado and nearly two dozen other states led by Democrats sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the dismantling of AmeriCorps, the 30-year-old federal agency for volunteer service, and over the cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding for state and community projects across the U.S.

The federal lawsuit filed against the agency and its interim head alleged that President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency illegally gutted the agency created by Congress and reneged on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National program, which was budgeted $557 million in congressionally approved funding this year.

The agency oversees a number of programs that dispatch hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of people to serve in communities across the country.

“In an attempt to dismantle the agency, the Trump administration and its DOGE demolition team made abrupt and drastic cuts to staff and volunteers and terminated grants,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in a statement. “We are suing to stop this illegal dismantling of AmeriCorps and preserve the spirit of community service in our state and nation.”

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement, AmeriCorps members help support wildfire mitigation, students in schools and expanded mental health access.

“Their work touches every part of our state, and these cuts are taking important services away from Coloradans and our communities,” Polis said.

Last week, during a briefing on this year’s wildfire forecast, Polis said the state had 500 AmeriCorps workers lined up for fire suppression and mitigation work.

On Tuesday, the governor’s office said Trump’s cuts will “prematurely end the service” of nearly 300 AmeriCorps members at roughly 200 sites across Colorado.

“This decision will have devastating effects on communities across our state, impacting our ability to support students, provide families food and housing supports, protect against forest fires and lift up our neighbors,” Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said in a statement.

Nationally, at least 85% of AmeriCorps staff were put on administrative leave this month, according to the complaint, with at least some notified that they would be let go because of a reduction in force.

AmeriCorps employs more than 500 full-time federal workers and has an operating budget of roughly $1 billion.

In addition, it sends roughly 200,000 corps members across the country as part of its service programs. Most corps members get a living stipend during their service and become eligible for funding for future education expenses or to apply for certain student loans.