Peace Corps Downsizing Amid Budget Woes

Though a government agency, rather than a private nonprofit, the Peace Corps certainly has long been a bastion of volunteerism since its creation by President Kennedy in 1961. Now, however, a story in today’s Washington Post notes that the Peace Corps (which, as the story notes, President Bush once promised to double in size) is accepting fewer volunteers and cutting other costs as it faces a budget shortfall of $18 million during this and next fiscal year. Part of the problem has been a weak dollar; the Corps estimates that it endured over $9 million in foreign-currency-related losses during the past year. The other problem is the continued stalemate between the Bush administration and Congress on the budget for the new fiscal year.

JDC