The Peace Corps, the service program that President Bush once promised to double in size, is preparing to cut back on new volunteers and consolidate recruiting offices as it pares other costs amid an increasingly tight budget. The program, which has a budget of $330.8 million, is facing an anticipated shortfall of about $18 million this fiscal year and next. Much of the gap can be attributed to the declining value of the dollar overseas and the rising cost of energy and other commodities. The tight fiscal climate also means an anticipated scaling back in new volunteers next year by 400, wiping out planned growth and leaving the overall number of volunteers at about 8,000. Managers at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington have been asked to cut their budgets by 15.5 percent.
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has pledged to double the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.
1 comment:
Thanks for blogging about this, . Peace Corps volunteers not only do great work in the field, but when they come home they continue to make important contributions to our communities, to our country and the world.
Hello Sabrina,
Thanks for blogging about this. Peace Corps volunteers not only do great work in the field, but when they come home they continue to make important contributions to our communities, to our country and the world.
I thought you might like to know that the National Peace Corps Association has launched a national outreach and legislative campaign for a re-invigorated Peace Corps. The goal is to double the Peace Corps' size and budget by its 50th anniversary in 2011. To learn more about this campaign, visit its Web site at: www.morepeacecorps.org.
Please visit, sign up and help spread the word!
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