# American Climate Corps

The American Climate Corps was a national service of the US government focused on climate change prevention. It was launched in September 2023 by the Biden administration, and is a government interagency project between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Departments of Labor, Interior, Agriculture, Energy, and AmeriCorps. The service planned to recruit 20,000 young people, and train them for public service or the private sector. On January 20th, 2025, President Trump canceled the Climate Corps via executive order:
   All activities, programs, and operations associated with the American Climate Corps, including actions taken by any agency shall be terminated immediately. Within one day of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a letter to all parties to the 'American Climate Corps Memorandum of Understanding' dated December 2023 to terminate the memorandum, and the head of each party to the memorandum shall agree to the termination in writing.

## Forest Corps

The Climate Corps has a 5-year, $15 million partnership through the US Forest Service for establishing a Forest Corps with a highest priority of confronting the wildfire crisis. The Forest Corps plans to employ 80 people aged 18–26 beginning in the summer of 2024. These positions requiring no prior education or experience will pay a compensation package of lodging, transportation, clothing, a living allowance, and health benefits equivalent to $15 per hour.

## Career skills training program

The United States Department of Energy will allocate $10 million in grants to support classroom instruction and on-the-job training for individuals seeking industry-related certifications in energy efficient building technologies. Grant applicants must submit a community benefits plan by 27 November 2023. The plan must explain how the proposal will contribute to local community and labor support, workforce development, diversity, equity, inclusion, and initiatives for economic and environmental justice.

## Initial operation and further expansion

Building from the existence and success of other climate corps programs such as SEI's Climate Corps and California Climate Action Corp, the American Climate Corps is expected to begin functioning in April 2024 with several hundred members. The tasks are not defined precisely, but will "likely include things like installing solar panels, restoring vulnerable habitats, and fire hazard prevention."
The needed skills will strongly differ between the different tasks: some tasks will need only "skills like communications, conflict resolution, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, reliability," while others will require also higher education.
According to the Biden administration, in the first year the number of participants is expected to be 20,000, with 50,000 more added each year by 2031. However, this plan is strongly opposed by Republicans.
On Earth Day 2024, in Prince William Forest Park created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Biden officially launched the corps' website, in which people can apply for the available jobs. 2,000 jobs were already available when the declaration was made. More than 42,000 people expressed interest in participating.
The first class of members was sworn in, in mid June 2024. By the end of that month, the number of members in place was expected to reach 9,000.