2025 Priorities

Funding for the Peace Corps

While specific legislation changes over the years, one constant component of our advocacy involves supporting strong funding for the Peace Corps. Peace Corps funding during Fiscal Year 2024 was $430.5 million. Congress continues to work on funding for the current fiscal year (FY 2025), as a March 14th deadline for action nears.

Though later than the traditional timeline, Congress is expected to begin turning its attention on funding for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on October 1st. While we await for the Trump administration’s funding request, we are preparing for the possibility that a funding cut – possibly a significant funding cut – will be recommended. At this time we are asking members of Congress to hold the line, and support no less than the current, $430.5 million for the Peace Corps in FY 2026.

Use these links for our current Peace Corps funding background document, and our leave behind document which can be shared with congressional offices.

Congressional Gold Medal (Pending)

An effort is underway to urge Congress to introduce legislation that would honor the Peace Corps and its volunteers with a Congressional Gold Medal. The Gold Medal is highest civilian honor provided by Congress. It is awarded to individuals, institutions, or events that have made a significant impact on the country.

This is a perfect time for the community to urge such recognition of the Peace Corps,  as 2026 will mark both the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps. NPCA is currently beginning of process of identifying leaders in the Senate and House to introduce this legislation.

The Peace Corps Reauthorization Act (Pending)

While a National Peace Corps Association priority over the past four years, this legislation has not yet been introduced in the new, 119th Congress. Content of this legislation will likely be re-considered, and it is possible this legislation will be re-introduced later in 2025.

In 2022, during the closing days of the 117th Congress, we came very close to passing legislation that would have resulted in the first comprehensive reauthorization of the Peace Corps in more than twenty years.

In the previous (118th) Congress, the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act was re-introduced in the Senate (S.1203) and also in the House (H.R. 1273). Both bills had a bi-partisan list of House and Senate co-sponsors. The legislation contained provisions addressing volunteer health and safety, federal employment enhancements for returning volunteers, strategies to build up the Peace Corps’ presence in the Indo-Pacific region, and more.

Recent Advocacy Progress/Success Stories

Here are some recent examples of advocacy progress and victories by National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and our amazing community of citizen advocates, in supporting a stronger, better, and well-resourced Peace Corps.

• March, 2025: During Peace Corps Week, 25 NPCA advocates saw their letters-to-the editor or feature stories appear in media outlets across sixteen states, with the potential to reach 4 million people.
• March 2, 2025: The city of Upper Arlington, Ohio issued a proclamation recognizing the 64th anniversary of the beginning of the Peace Corps. The proclamation was presented at a program hosted by the Central Ohio RPCV Association.
• January 23, 2025: The Colorado RPCVs and NPCA congratulated Senator John Hickenlooper for becoming a co-sponsor of the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act in late 2024. Read more here.