Peace Corps Faces Uncertainty Amid DOGE Funding Review

Key Points

• • Representatives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have arrived at Peace Corps headquarters, indicating potential funding cuts.
• • The Peace Corps confirmed the DOGE's presence but did not specify the nature of their work or requests.
• • The National Peace Corps Association expressed concern about possible funding cuts, noting that similar visits to federal agencies have led to significant reductions in the past.
• • The Peace Corps has faced staffing challenges, with its volunteer "fill rate" dropping from 94% in FY 2019 to 63% in FY 2023.
• • The agency's budget for FY 2024 is $430.5 million, which is under 0.1% of the total federal budget.
• • The Biden administration requested $479 million for the Peace Corps this fiscal year, but Congress has not yet passed the funding authorization.
• • Despite past bipartisan support for expanding resources for the agency, proposed legislation has failed to pass.
• • The Peace Corps, established in 1961, focuses on international development with volunteers working in various sectors, including education and health.
• • The agency restored its pre-pandemic operational levels last fiscal year, with over 3,300 volunteers in 61 countries.
• • Plans to expand operations into the Indo-Pacific region this year are uncertain due to the current situation.
• • DOGE's involvement at the Peace Corps follows its previous actions to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
• • Historically, the Peace Corps has been regarded as a key tool for U.S. soft power, and bipartisan support has characterized its existence since the Reagan era.