March for Our Lives, one of the most prominent youth-led gun control organizations in the country, announced this week that it has laid off 13 of its 16 full-time employees. The report, covered by The 19th News and journalist Jennifer Gerson, confirms the nonprofit is facing major financial trouble and organizational upheaval. The move leaves only three full-time staffers, including newly appointed Executive Director Jaclyn Corin – one of the group’s original co-founders and a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting.
New Leadership Amid Turmoil
At just 24 years old, Corin is stepping in at a turbulent time. In her interview with The 19th, Corin said, “We are facing financial challenges as an organization, not unlike many nonprofit advocacy organizations in this time.” She emphasized that while the outcome of the 2024 presidential election played a role in donor shifts, the organization’s own expansion beyond sustainable limits also contributed to the current crisis. Corin now hopes to streamline efforts by refocusing on digital mobilization and grassroots youth outreach.
Donor Fatigue After Trump Victory
According to Gerson’s reporting, March for Our Lives spent $1.75 million in 2023 but brought in only $1.42 million – nearly all from donations. The organization declined to disclose 2024 numbers. Corin admitted the financial strain is severe, noting that the progressive donor base has shrunk following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. It’s a common pattern, Gerson notes, across many progressive nonprofits that have seen funding dry up post-election.
Braden Langley Sees Collapse as Victory
Gun rights advocate Braden Langley, host of the Langley Outdoors Academy YouTube channel, framed the news very differently. In his recent video, Langley called it a “feel-good story” for Second Amendment supporters. He celebrated the staff cuts as evidence that gun rights activists are “winning” after years of holding the line. “You just led them to cut 13 of their 16 spots,” Langley told his audience. “This thing is in its death throes.”
An Organization Built on Urgency
Despite its current challenges, March for Our Lives was once a powerful symbol of youth-led activism. Formed in the wake of the Parkland shooting, it gained massive attention for organizing one of the largest youth marches in American history. Corin said the group is trying to return to that original sense of urgency and impact. “We started as a megaphone for the movement,” she told The 19th, referencing the early speeches and protests that launched the group into the national spotlight.
A Different Tone, Same Mission
Corin wants to shift the strategy. Instead of trying to do everything, she wants March for Our Lives to hone in on what it does best: youth mobilization. She believes their message still resonates, especially with young women, who she calls the “backbone of social movements.” Still, she acknowledges the group must find new ways to reach young men too, stating, “No matter someone’s gender, everyone is impacted by gun violence.”
Langley Questions Their Relevance
Langley, however, questions whether March for Our Lives can still engage anyone at all. He pointed to the group’s weak digital presence as evidence of declining influence. “They have like two million followers on X and get 1,200 views,” he mocked, contrasting it with his own engagement numbers. In his view, the organization’s message isn’t connecting anymore, and he suggests that their outreach is “based on fear and emotion,” which he says is losing its edge.
A History of Bold Demands
Langley also reminded viewers of March for Our Lives’ past policy proposals, citing their support for mandatory gun buybacks and bans on so-called assault weapons. He read from older policy statements that called for a 30% reduction in the domestic gun stock and government destruction of purchased firearms. “That’s who we’re dealing with,” he said. “The far-left, young, progressive, anti-gun movement.” For Langley and others in the gun rights community, this isn’t just about budget shortfalls – it’s about ideological defeat.
Loss of Political Backing Adds Pressure
Gerson’s article highlights another blow: the dismantling of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The office, created during the Biden administration with input from March for Our Lives, was disbanded by Trump’s executive order shortly after taking office. Rob Wilcox, a former co-deputy director of that office, told The 19th that the moment calls for “loud and targeted communication.” But that’s hard to do with barely any staff and no government foothold.
Corin’s New Plan: Creativity and Community
Corin plans to lead with creativity. She said the group will now invest heavily in digital strategies and public art campaigns to stir conversation and action. The goal, she explained to The 19th, is to “snap people out of that trance” of treating gun violence as normal. She also hopes to give young people practical tools to influence policy. But even Corin acknowledges this is a rebuilding phase. “We ultimately took on more than our resources could sustain… and we take responsibility for that.”
March for Our Lives Faces an Identity Test
Right now, March for Our Lives is not only short on cash – it’s being forced to redefine what it is. From its early days as a protest powerhouse to its current effort to regroup, the organization is testing whether a leaner, more focused mission can survive in a political climate that’s no longer favorable. As Gerson reported, even longtime allies like Po Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance are acknowledging the stakes: “If I have to choose one organization of all the gun control groups to survive… it’s March for Our Lives.”
A Symbolic Moment
It’s hard not to see this moment as symbolic. The very group that once stood at the center of America’s youth gun control movement is now struggling to stay afloat. Whether you support gun rights or gun restrictions, what’s clear is that political winds shift fast. What was once a powerful movement is now hoping for a second wind. And if it doesn’t come soon, March for Our Lives may end up as just another chapter in the long, complicated story of America’s gun debate.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.