When I voted for Sen. Susan Collins in the past, I did so on the strength of her support for causes she believes in. She positions herself as someone with principles, who works for what is best for Mainers and for the country, not just her political party.

But Collins’ days of thinking for herself may be over. For example, on her website right now, Collins broadcasts years of support for AmeriCorps, our only national service agency. AmeriCorps places volunteers in areas of great need in the U.S., including disaster zones and rural and impoverished communities.

Across the country and here in Maine, communities benefiting from AmeriCorps receive essential assistance with infrastructure repair, building of veterans’ and workforce housing, flood cleanup, tutoring, support for the elderly and more. Volunteers are primarily young adults; they work for a poverty-level stipend, skills training and the opportunity to contribute to a greater part of our nation.

Historically, there has been no downside politically to the AmeriCorps program. It has long held broad support. Conservative author David Brooks wrote a column in the New York Times lauding AmeriCorps (“We need national service. Now., May 7, 2020). He noted that “88 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Republicans support voluntary national service.” So it’s no surprise to see Collins trumpet her own support for the agency.

On her website, Collins touts numerous actions supporting AmeriCorps. In 2019, she helped pass a resolution recognizing AmeriCorps volunteers, and she promoted an AmeriCorps-supported digital literacy training program for 10,000 adult learners throughout Maine. In 2020 and 2021, she joined bipartisan groups introducing legislation to expand AmeriCorps service, and later led the call for “robust” funding of the agency.

In 2023, Collins’ website advertises, she received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award for her strong support of AmeriCorps. Susan Collins frames this support as smart financial policy, stating on her website that “every $1 Congress invests in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors returns more than $17 in benefits to our country.”

Reading all this, it’s reasonable to expect Collins to continue actively supporting AmeriCorps, this program she believes in. But I’m learning that expectation may be wrong.

AmeriCorps is one of the agencies currently being decimated by DOGE, with staff laid off, projects abruptly canceled and the entire existence of the agency imminently threatened. Meanwhile, Collins is nowhere to be seen. She did not respond to requests for comment about cuts to the agency when contacted by the Washington Post (“AmeriCorps shaped these lawmakers’ careers. They’re fighting to save it., April 23, 2025).

She did not sign the April 2025 bicameral letter to Trump supporting AmeriCorps and requesting bipartisan improvements to the agency. According to the Portland Press Herald, Collins says she is “opposed to making sweeping, indiscriminate cuts to AmeriCorps,” but what is she doing to stop those cuts? The Press Herald reports only that she “has reached out to AmeriCorps for more information.” When I personally contact Susan Collins to ask what she is doing to support AmeriCorps, I receive no reply, not even a form letter.

What does it mean when Susan Collins doesn’t fight for the very things she promotes herself as standing for? Susan Collins, what are your principles now? Are they still the ones you advertise? If so, it’s time to stand up and save AmeriCorps.