FY 2027 U.S. Senate Peace Corps Funding Request
We had a deadline of April 27 for swift, steady action urging Senators to sign the annual Peace Corps funding letter. We had less than one week to ask Senators to sign the funding letter, which was authored this year by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). See who signed the letter below. The request was $479 million for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2027—an increase from the current funding level of $410 million. The $479 million request is equal to the recommendation made for last fiscal year and matches this cycle's House of Representatives request authored by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA...
Peace Corps Launches Tech Prosperity Corps Initiative
Today, the Peace Corps announced a new initiative, called Tech Prosperity Corps, to “recruit, train and deploy skilled Americans to support the adoption of artificial intelligence in Peace Corps host countries participating in the American AI Exports Program.” The initiative was announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. According to acting Peace Corps Director Richard E. Swarttz, “By building technical capacity, supporting AI adoption across critical use cases, and addressing barriers to last-mile AI implementation, Tech Prosperity Corps volunteers will leverage American AI to expand access...
Black Peace Corps Journeys: Designing a Life After Service
A Look into the Black Peace Corps Experience By Arabella Estes The culminating event for the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience’s Peace by Design exhibit highlighted not only the humanity behind Peace Corps service, but also honed in on the experiences of one group, Black Peace Corps Volunteers. On Friday, February 13th, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) met to share a range of perspectives on the experiences, both during and after their service, at “Black Peace Corps Journeys: Designing a Life After Service.” Hosted at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and intended to commemorate both Black History...
NPCA Statement on Final Congressional Action on FY 2026 Peace Corps Funding
February 4, 2026 - Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026). The funding package includes appropriations for the Peace Corps and other international programs. While the Trump administration had proposed level funding of $430.5 million for the Peace Corps, both the House and Senate settled on a five percent, $20 million reduction in funding for the current fiscal year, which runs through September 30th. This funding level for the agency’s operations is nearly equal to the $410 million allotted in 2016, which represents less than 0.1% of...
From the Peace Corps to the boardroom: Humana CEO Jim Rechtin on listening and leading
By Ty Dávila, Research Contributor at the New Lines Institute The Peace Corps instills values that extend far beyond volunteers' years of service, providing them with a mental framework to tackle life's biggest challenges. This transformative experience continues to shape volunteers long after they return home, as demonstrated by Jim Rechtin, a former volunteer who now serves as CEO of Humana. Rechtin's Peace Corps service in the Republic of Congo nearly ended after six months when he was ready to pack his bags and return home. Instead, he persevered through the challenging adjustment period, building latrines and fostering connections with local residents....
Spirit of Service
Insights from RPCVs Briana Nezbah, Dennis Felipe Jr., and Jonathan Clark via Peace Corps Blogs Service is one of the few things that asks something of every American and, in return, gives all of us a deeper “we.” That “we” must include the First Peoples of this land whose traditions of mutual care, knowledge-keeping, and stewardship predate the nation itself. Peace Corps has long benefited from Indigenous volunteers who carry those traditions into classrooms, clinics, and councils around the world—teaching, learning, and building relationships that honor both their Tribes and their host communities. People like Briana Nezbah Edmo (Navajo Nation;...
Reimagining National Service: Building a Culture of Civic Commitment
Reimagining National Service: Building a Culture of Civic Commitment By Hayden Johnson, NPCA Communications Intern At this year’s Peace Corps Connect conference, a powerful and forward-looking panel tackled one of the most pressing questions for the service movement today: How can national service evolve to meet the needs of a changing world, while staying true to its mission of building community, equity, and civic purpose? Convened by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), the session welcomed Scott Beale, former Peace Corps Associate Director; Shirley Sagawa, former President and CEO of Service Year Alliance and founder of AmeriCorps; Julie Budkowski, Managing...
Peace Corps Iran: A Final Reunion, a Lasting Legacy
Peace Corps Iran Association's FINAL Gathering More than one hundred RPCVs reunited this weekend for the final gathering of the Peace Corps Iran Association at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. The group will cease to exist in June 2026, it's only fitting that they end in a high note, a finale to their journey. The event marked a meaningful conclusion to decades of reconnections among those who served in Iran before the 1979 revolution, offering a space to honor their shared legacy and reflect on how their experiences shaped lives and careers across generations. Though...
Celebrating Global Diversity Awareness Month
By NPCA DEIA Committee Each October, Global Diversity Awareness Month invites us to reflect on the rich tapestry of cultures, perspectives, and identities that shape our world—and our Peace Corps community. For the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), this month is a powerful reminder of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, both in principle and in practice. As returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), we have witnessed firsthand the beauty of global cultures and the transformative power of cross-cultural exchange. Global Diversity Awareness Month challenges us to bring those lessons home—to listen deeply, uplift underrepresented voices, and foster belonging...
Carla Brown Named Next President and CEO of National Peace Corps Association
National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) announced today that Carla Brown has been selected as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. The NPCA Board of Directors confirmed Brown’s appointment after a rigorous four-month selection process that engaged the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) community and affirmed the association’s commitment to openness, equity, and transparency. She will succeed Dan Baker, who has served as NPCA’s President and CEO since 2022, and is departing the role at the end of the year. Said NPCA Board Chair, John Lee Evans: “I am pleased that the Board of Directors has...