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 the total U.S. federal budget.
While NPCA recognizes that there have been cuts across government operations, National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) remains confident that the Peace Corps will continue to prioritize the safety and security of volunteers who dedicate 2 years of their lives to national service.
NPCA applauds both the impact of Peace Corps Volunteers in countries around the world and the return on investment for the U.S. The domestic dividend is exponential, with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers integrating their understanding of global contexts, directly applicable skills, and growth mindsets – working in corporate, nonprofit, small business, government, and community-based careers. NPCA will continue to advocate for the growth of Peace Corps programs worldwide and for the more than 240,000 volunteers that have served since 1961.