The Peace Corps continues to prioritize Volunteer health, safety, and security and effective service. NPCA is aware of assurances made to current Volunteers for maintaining this commitment and support.

The Peace Corps does not have plans to reduce the number of currently serving Volunteers. The agency has always and will always provide for the safe return of all Volunteers at the completion of their service.

The agency does not have plans to reduce the number of posts due to staffing reductions. The closure of the long-standing Peace Corps/Mozambique program, announced in May, was, for example, the result of ongoing security concerns and persistent operational challenges. 

It is important to note that pausing or cancelling cohorts or departures is not preferred; it is an option that can be used when the agency determines that the current environment will not lead to successful service.  Below is a list of Peace Corps programs with recently paused or cancelled Volunteer cohort departures or planned closures. This section will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Cancelled or Paused Cohort Departures: 

• Tanzania – August 2025 cohort paused; current operations unaffected 

• Cameroon – June 2025 cohort cancelled; current operations unaffected. 

• South Africa – Summer 2025 cohort paused; current service continues. 

• Kyrgyz Republic – June 2025 cohort cancelled; existing Volunteers unaffected. 

Permanently Closed: 

• Ethiopia – Post permanently closing by the end of 2025. Volunteers were evacuated in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and re-entry had been on hold due to security concerns.  

• Mozambique – Post closure will likely be completed by the end of 2025 due to ongoing security and operational challenges. Volunteers were evacuated in 2024 due to health and safety challenges. 

While there will be challenges to reach or exceed the pre-pandemic levels of 7200+ Volunteers in the field, it is very much the long-term intention of current agency leadership. In CEO Shea’s recent message to the field, he laid out the following ambition:   

“Today, we are setting a specific target of 8000+ Volunteers in service by 2030. This is both an ambitious goal and a goal that we can achieve. We are a resourceful, dedicated, and talented agency, and we can accomplish the things that we set out to accomplish. We are setting a challenging goal because we are an agency that rises to the challenge."

Adding...

"This means looking at all available options to increase the number of applicants, including significantly increasing the readjustment allowance for all Volunteers, expediting the clearance and placement process, and streamlining or reducing administrative burdens.” 

We at National Peace Corps Association are reassured to see this ambitious goal clearly stated and will continue to advocate for actions and resources that allow the agency to far exceed their new goal of 8,000 PCVs by 2030. However, it is abundantly clear to us that the Peace Corps will need the help of our entire community to mobilize greater demand among U.S citizens to serve in the Peace Corps and to meet the requests of host governments for Volunteer numbers. We look forward to supporting them and you as we mobilize RPCV recruiting efforts in the future.     

The Peace Corps restructuring is on-going, and we will continue to request that the agency make publicly available its new organizational chart in the coming weeks or months – as soon as it is released. NPCA is actively working with the RPCV community at National and state levels to minimize additional cuts and to preserve robust Peace Corps agency appropriations in the 2026 Congressional budget.

National Peace Corps Association understands that at the time of the “shuffle,” the previous transitional leadership team at the Peace Corps, under CEO Allison Greene, was one of the last transitional teams among federal agencies put in place by the prior administration. On August 12, the new administration chose three new executive leaders, including two career staff, to assume ongoing transitional leadership responsibilities: Paul Shea as CEO and Kris Besch as Deputy CEO. They will likely remain in place until a new Director and Deputy Director are nominated and confirmed by the Senate. We look forward to working with Paul and Kris, and take the opportunity to sincerely thank Allison Greene and the other previous leadership for their excellent stewardship of the agency during a turbulent seven-month period. See more about current agency leadership here. 

Take Action to Support the Peace Corps in Congress. The Peace Corps is approaching its 65th anniversary — a perfect time to honor its legacy and Volunteers with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor from Congress. At the same time, robust funding for the agency is critical to carry out the agency’s mission. 

Help ensure bipartisan support for this iconic American institution by urging Congress to fund the agency at the President’s proposed FY 2026 level of $430.5 M. Visit our Action Center to quickly send a message to your lawmaker. Take Action Now.

You can also help recruit the next generation of Volunteers by sharing your unique Peace Corps experience and how it continues to impact your life and career. Connect with your local community through service groups, libraries, school activities and social media networks. Your story has the power to inspire the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers. Sign up on the RPCV Portal to be part of Peace Corps’ Global Connections Program and become part of the network of RPCVs available to share your story with communities in the U.S. 

One of the very most important actions just happened in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers were asked to sign a letter that will be sent to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee, asking that they support an increase in Peace Corps funding for the next federal fiscal year (FY 2026). The more lawmakers who signed on the letter, the more leverage we will have to get the strongest Peace Corps budget possible. The final number of signatures is still pending, follow this link, to see who has signed the letter so far. Note: A similar letter is expected to be circulating soon in the U.S. Senate.

At NPCA, our response is our Stand Up for Service campaign, you can join the movement HERE.

While there are no direct or immediate threats on record, NPCA recognizes the uncertainty and concerns of our collective community regarding the future of the Peace Corps. NPCA has determined that at this time, the most effective strategy is to activate its network to advocate at the state level, and to use this network to promote how the Peace Corps has made the US stronger, safer and more prosperous through data and storytelling.  Additionally, NPCA is part of various national coalitions that work in solidarity with the foreign aid community. Take Action Now.