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What is the American Climate Corps? Internet slams Joe Biden's new youth training and service initiative

While the White House has not disclosed an estimated cost for the ACC, some House Democrats had initially demanded $132B in funding for the program

WASHINGTON, DC: In a move that has ignited both support and criticism, President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday, September 20, that he would employ his executive authority to establish the American Climate Corps (ACC), a green jobs training program aimed at young people.

This announcement came after Congress rejected an earlier attempt to introduce a similar initiative, triggering a wave of reactions on social media.

American Climate Corps (ACC)

“The American Climate Corps will mobilize a new, diverse generation of more than 20,000 Americans – putting them to work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and advancing environmental justice, all while creating pathways to high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs in the public and private sectors after they complete their paid training program,” the White House stated in the press release.

The ambitious program bears a resemblance to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal initiative introduced by former President Franklin D Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

The CCC was renowned for its contributions to environmental conservation and job creation during a challenging economic period.

However, Biden's initial efforts to include the ACC in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) were met with strong opposition from congressional Republicans, primarily due to concerns about its potential costs.

The exclusion of the program from the legislation was a significant setback for the administration, leading to President Biden's decision to pursue it through executive action.

Despite the initial hurdles, prominent Democrats such as New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey pushed for the ACC's implementation via executive authority.

They argued that taking swift action on climate change is essential, framing it as an urgent matter.

Environmentalist groups also joined the chorus of voices advocating for the program's realization, highlighting the pressing need for climate-focused initiatives.

While the White House has not disclosed an estimated cost for the ACC, some House Democrats had initially demanded $132 billion in funding for the program within the IRA before it was removed from the legislation.

Biden's initial plan had allocated $10 billion for the program, a fraction of the requested amount.

Social media backlash

However, not everyone has welcomed the ACC with open arms.

On social media platforms, there was a notable backlash against the initiative. Some critics compared it to a "communist training force," drawing parallels to historical organizations like the Soviet-era Komsomol or "Lenin youth."

"Marxism. Here it comes," one posted on X.

"Lenin Youth. Great idea, Joe," another wrote, referring to Komsomol, a Soviet-era outfit for young people aged 14 to 28 serving primarily as a political organ for spreading Communist teachings and grooming future members of the Communist Party.

"Communist training force," someone else added.

"Let me guess these 'jobs' will involve 'activism' in the streets and let me guess again in the summer of 2024. So much democracy so little time," another chimed in.

Origins of ACC and key players involved

The genesis of the American Climate Corps can be traced back to discussions between Biden's 2020 campaign and representatives of former Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders.

These discussions culminated in the formation of "unity" campaign task forces, which played a pivotal role in shaping the policies that President Biden has since implemented.

It's worth noting that five states—California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, and Washington—have already launched successful Climate Corps programs, with an additional five states—Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Maryland—announcing their own state-level programs in recent days.

These state initiatives align with the broader goals of the ACC.

The Climate Corps will be a collaborative effort involving six federal agencies: the Department of Labor, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Energy, and AmeriCorps. These agencies will formalize their commitment to the program through a memorandum of understanding, CNN reported.

AmeriCorps will establish a new "American Climate Corps hub" to support the initiative, building on investments from recent bipartisan legislation aimed at climate resilience and conservation. Sign-ups for the ACC program have already commenced at whitehouse.gov/climatecorps, with recruitment activities set to unfold over the coming year.