President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget calls for the elimination of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), threatening civil legal aid for millions of low-income Americans. If approved, funding would drop from $560 million to just $21 million for close-out costs, effectively ending LSC’s operations.
LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the U.S., supporting over 130 organizations that assist more than five million people annually—including veterans, seniors, domestic violence survivors, and low-income families. These legal services help individuals avoid eviction, foreclosure, consumer scams, loss of income or healthcare, and other urgent civil legal issues.
LSC President Ron Flagg warned that cutting funding would be devastating: “It is too often true that there is no hope of accessing justice when legal problems arise for the 52 million Americans who qualify for LSC-funded services and have no means to afford an attorney.”
Despite bipartisan support—including letters from 160 law firm leaders, 40 state attorneys general, and 37 state chief justices—LSC faces an uncertain future. Studies show legal aid offers a strong return on investment, saving public funds and improving family and economic stability.