What We Know:
On Monday, April 28, 2025, National Peace Corps Association learned that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has instructed the Peace Corps to identify additional efficiencies in its staffing structure, and the agency is expecting the need for significant restructuring at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Peace Corps has informed NPCA that the agency “will continue to recruit, place, and train volunteers, and remain committed to supporting their health, safety and security, and effective service.”
Federal employees at Peace Corps are again being offered a “deferred resignation program” option, for which they may apply by Tuesday, May 6. Similar to other federal agencies, this program would allow staff to be put on paid administrative leave through September 30, 2025, at which time their agency employment would conclude.
NPCA’s Response:
While Peace Corps Volunteer efforts will continue, NPCA is concerned by any proposal to reduce the support necessary to ensure their quality training, support, and well-being.
Peace Corps has made significant cuts to both American and host country national staff in recent years due to Congress’s inability to maintain the agency’s appropriation at adequate levels. Furthermore, Peace Corps is uniquely affected by the federal hiring freeze due to its higher levels of natural attrition, a result of the employee term limitations established by the original Peace Corps Act.
NPCA remains concerned that an already lean agency will be forced to sacrifice services for current Peace Corps applicants, Volunteers, and alumni. As Peace Corps seeks to rebuild its overseas volunteer presence to pre-pandemic levels, reducing staff—especially when the agency has been unable to hire recruiters due to the federal hiring freeze—is a significant step in the wrong direction.
As Congress prepares to receive President Trump’s proposal to make additional cuts to federal funding for the current fiscal year—and will soon receive his budget request for the next fiscal year—it is imperative that they ensure Peace Corps has the necessary funding to allow the agency to function effectively.
What’s Next?
As DOGE cuts continue to impact the government, we encourage our community to KEEP GOING. Our advocacy efforts are making a difference. Through the collective actions of our community, we can confirm:
- In the past ten weeks, we generated roughly 5,000 emails and phone calls to Congress, urging support for Peace Corps and other international assistance/national service programs.
- In the past two months, we facilitated at least 90 activities — including local and virtual congressional office meetings, published op-eds and letters to the editor, letter-writing gatherings, and Peace Corps promotional events.
At NPCA, we reaffirm our commitment to Stand Up for Service. At this critical time, our message is simple:
- International cooperation and humanitarian assistance make our country stronger. Peace Corps strengthens America through an internationally recognized and emulated program that directly sharpens the skills and international competitiveness of America’s workforce.
- Peacebuilding through soft diplomacy makes our country safer. Through its mission of building intercultural understanding around the world, Peace Corps’ intercultural goals build friendships and mutual understanding, contributing directly to our country’s security.
- National Service makes our country more prosperous. Peace Corps Service unites our country, builds a skilled workforce, encourages entrepreneurship, and instills a patriotic sense of community service.
Take Action in three ways:
- Visit our Action Center here to contact your representatives and advocate for Peace Corps. Visit our 2025 National Days of Advocacy page for any resource you need.
- Register here for Peace Corps Connect 2025! We’re bringing the RPCV community together in Washington, DC for the most consequential gathering of RPCVS this decade. Regardless of whatever transpires between now and July, this will be an enormously important opportunity for this community.
- Donate here to Stand Up For Service. There’s no time to wait. We need your help to secure the future of the Peace Corps. Stand up for service and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Your donation today ensures we can act swiftly and effectively.