Sidebar #12 - The Future of the Peace Corps

This goes for anything I post, but as an added reminder for this blog in particular, the views expressed here are solely my own and do not reflect the views of the Peace Corps nor the U.S. Government. Furthermore, I do not have any inside information on forthcoming organizational developments. Rather, this is pure speculation based on my interest in government, policy, and international relations.

“Do you think the Peace Corps could get eliminated?” is a question I've been asked by friends and family on several occasions since President Trump was elected in November, so I figured it’d be worth addressing. It’s certainly a question that has been on volunteers’ minds, especially since the Trump Administration signaled sweeping changes to USAID earlier this week. 


My personal answer to whether I think the Peace Corps is in danger of being cut? It’s certainly possible, but I think it’s unlikely. It’s important to remember that the organization has existed for over 60 years and is active in over 60 countries. The Peace Corps has a long legacy and traditionally has been very popular amongst Americans and host countries. The Peace Corps survived Trump’s first administration. It exists through congressional legislation, The Peace Corps Act, and therefore would be difficult to dismantle unilaterally. Furthermore, the organization has traditionally maintained bipartisan support, including the existence of a congressional caucus. Finally, the Peace Corps’ annual budget of around $400 million pales in comparison to the larger spending of other foreign aid and international relations programs.


However, I do not doubt that there will be changes organizationally, as any agency does when there’s a presidential transition. President Trump has yet to appoint a new Peace Corps Director, but he selected a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) to lead the organization during his prior term in the White House. My best guess is that the administration cuts the organization’s budget a bit and may adjust some volunteer postings that are related to topics like climate change, gender, etc, but once again, that’s pure speculation. He’s made bold moves in the past, and I’ve been wrong before, so maybe it’s possible he eliminates the organization in its entirety. But, I’d be really surprised if this happened and I’m fully expecting to serve two more years in Costa Rica without interruption.

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