HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan coalition of 40 state and territorial attorneys general is urging Congress to continue funding the Legal Services Corporation in fiscal 2027, arguing that the federal program remains a key source of civil legal assistance for low-income Americans and rural communities facing attorney shortages.
The request, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday along with attorneys general from Colorado, North Carolina and Tennessee, comes as lawmakers begin work on annual appropriations legislation that will determine funding levels for the nation’s largest provider of civil legal aid support.
In a letter to congressional appropriators, the coalition asked lawmakers to maintain funding for the Legal Services Corporation, known as LSC, through the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The funding debate carries implications for legal aid providers nationwide. Created by Congress in 1974, LSC distributes federal funding to a network of 129 independent legal aid organizations operating more than 900 offices across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
According to the coalition, nearly 95% of LSC’s federal funding flows directly to local legal aid providers that assist residents with civil legal matters involving housing disputes, domestic violence protection, consumer fraud, veterans’ benefits and disaster recovery.
In Pennsylvania, LSC funding supports the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, which provides services through 77 legal aid offices covering all 67 counties. The network reported providing free legal representation to nearly 81,000 households in 2025, serving more than 176,500 residents.
The attorneys general argued that federal support is particularly important in rural areas, where shortages of attorneys can leave residents with limited access to legal representation in civil cases.
“The Legal Services Corporation provides a lifeline for individuals and families facing serious legal challenges who otherwise could not afford representation,” Sunday said. He added that the organization helps people recovering from disasters, seeking benefits and protecting themselves from fraud and violence.
The coalition also pointed to research indicating that civil legal aid programs generate broader economic benefits. According to the letter, studies have found that every dollar invested in civil legal aid produces an average of seven dollars in societal benefits through avoided costs and improved outcomes.
Joining the effort were attorneys general from 36 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, reflecting broad bipartisan support for maintaining federal funding as Congress considers spending priorities for fiscal 2027.
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