Trump will End the Peace Corps
Trump has been in office for a month and so far the Peace Corps has survived. I would have predicted…
If Trump Is Elected– End the Peace Corps
In his few years as President (2017-2021), Donald Trumps did not think much about the Peace Corps. In his very first year as president, in 2017, he eliminated more than 20 percent of the staff.
In 2017, newspaper columnist Gene Michol, visiting his Peace Corps daughter in the Gambia, wrote in an ob-ed piece how Trump was trying to eliminate the Peace Corps, writing, “In Trump’s world these young heroes are losers. They toil in obscurity. They come home broke. They put others’ comfort and prospects above their own. They don’t want the world to quake in fear at America’s greatness. Their patriotism calls them to use marked skills, boundless energies and opened arms to forge partnership with less generously blessed peoples across the globe.
“To our president, they’re chumps. For him, the only reason to deal with a place like Gambia is to exploit its people and resources. Winners take. They use. They grow the bottom line. They produce bigger buildings, larger portfolios. All the world envies them. Character, selflessness and service aren’t part of the framework. They never enter the calculus. They never have.”
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article162953253.html#storylink=cpy
In March of 2019, Shirley Sagawa, CEO of Service Year Alliance, would write, “We are deeply concerned that, for the third year in a row, President Trump has proposed eliminating the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps. “The Peace Corps and YouthBuild are also on the chopping block, with proposed cuts of $14 million and $5 million, respectively. These proposed cuts ignore the impact that national service has in communities across the country and the long history of bipartisan support.”
By 2020, Trump proposed a $9.3 million cut in baseline funding for the Peace Corps. His proposal provided $401.2 million for the agency, down from $415.
John Bridgeland, director of the USA Freedom Corps, who had worked in the Bush Administration, said he was shocked at the lack of engagement between the administration and the Peace Corps and other national service organizations. “It’s contrary to decades of bipartisan presidential leadership to support the Peace Corps,” said Mr. Bridgeland, a vice chairman of Service Year Alliance. “In a time when the administration is disengaging from the world and diminishing American leadership abroad, I think the Peace Corps is more important than ever.”
In his inaugural address, Kennedy asked what young people could do for their country. In his inaugural, Trump wanted young people out of national service. His first budget proposal eliminated the Corporation for National and Community Service, and with it, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Vista.
If re-elected Trump would also zero out the loan forgiveness program for graduates who choose public service jobs. He would cut U.S. programs that encouraged young Americans to teach in at-risk schools, become police officers, or take careers in social work.
If Trump is reelected, we can kiss the Peace Corps goodbye. He will return to the White House and finish what he wanted to do with our “American Democracy” when he was first elected President of the United States, get rid of Peace Corps Volunteers.
Posted by John Coyne (Ethiopia 1962-64)
John,
Thank you.
Moke Chee and I voted last Monday. It felt good.
We’re praying that good feeling still stands on November 6th.
Be well, Jim w
Thanks for this note, very important to know!
Yes, John, just another reason to be terrified by the prospect of Trump winning this upcoming election. We’re all holding our breath…
Taking action: RPCVs from my training group identified a toss-up Congressional race and have been making donations to the candidate who is most aligned with the Peace Corps spirit. His chances of upsetting and replacing the incumbent are rated “neck and neck”.
Jim Wolter said it well–I hope the good feeling is still there on November 6th!
Your excellent article serves as a warning to everyone who knows or respects our Peace Corps service. President Obama repeats the line, “Don’t boo – vote!” over and over. Vice-President Harris says that our actions, not our opinions, are really what count. I will send this article to every relative and friend who is wavering before this crucial election. Then I will spend time canvassing. Every vote counts.
If it is a choice between a Peace Corps run by Trump appointees and a Director, who reports to the President, who swears his loyalty to Trump, and a suspended/defunded Peace Corps, I would chose the latter. My concern about a Trump dominated Peace Corps is not so much about Volunteers, but the people with whom PCVs have worked for over 60 years.
I also believe the real Peace Corps spirit resides in the RPCV community, independent of any governmental control. In our country dominated by a Trump presidency, there will be much to do and I bellieve the RPCV community will do it.
One good thing Trump did while he was in office was to eliminate Project Minerva, the federal program which funded Department of Defense social science programs. Sounds like he doesn’t like Peace Corps either, but Peace Corps survived Richard Nixon, and according to everything I’ve read, Nixon hated the Peace Corps. According to When the World Calls by late Peace Corps historian Stanley Meisler, he was trying to get rid of Peace Corps, first by making it subservient to an Umbrella agency called ACTION, and might have accomplished his diabolical mission had not he had his hands full with the Watergatete crisis during his second term. So maybe Peace Corps can survive a Donald Trump presidency too, assuming he’s elected, especially with stalwart election denier and Thailand RPCV Peter Navarro in his corner. Peter would surely put it in some kind words for Peace Corps if Trump decided he wanted to defund it. Woundln’t he?
.
Navarro went to prison for four months because he refused to answer a Congressional supeana about January 6th. His loyalty to Trump, in my opinion, surpasses everything else.
Trump is an ever-present threat to Peace Corps. If elected, he directly defies our notion of the value of Americans helping developing nations to attain their goals, establish friendships and ultimately foreign relations good will. He will make our service seem inconsequential and ridiculous. I don’t think we’d want that, do you?
Leita Kaldi Davis
Peace Corps is a federal agency. It does not belong to us. I certainly do not want to see PC service trivalized or worse used to support partisan foreign policy and become a political weapon of whatever political party is in power. I believe in the power and independence of the RPCV community, even tho there are many different opinions among RPCVs.
John,
Perhaps if we can get national leaders to view Peace Corps as a Credit rather than a Debit on their annual budgets, it would emerge as the highest Return on Investment (ROI) than any other Federally supported program. For example, take Reed Hastings, RPCV Swaziland, who has donated more than $250 million to educational projects in the U. S., an amount equal to more than 50% of Peace Corps annual budget. How many more RPCVs like Reed are out there–but unreported? Other than with two or three RPCVs up on the Hill, or some journalists on Social Media platforms, Peace Corps 3rd Goal remains obscure.
I think John Coyne has presented a very strong anaylsis on why Trump would not be good for the Peace Corps. I hope Trump does not win. My hiusband and I are working, as I am sure many of you are, to promote the Harris team. If Trump does win, that would be time to decide how best to preserve the Peace Corps. We would also need to know which party controls the Senate and the House. I stated my opinion, too soon.
I had a final thought: Suppose Trump keeps the Peace Corps and nominates RFKjr to be Director?
I think the agency’s budget would–along with other agencies–be cut by a blanket percentage, and it might be merged into the State Department or with AmeriCorps. Peace Corps posts might co-locate in the embassy, which would provide centralized functions like cashiering, vehicles management, IT, perhaps medical and the AO function, further reducing costs. I wish there were more Volunteers at more posts at this time, especially since the posts during the pandemic had maintained full staffs in anticipation. On the positive side, the agency has been fortunate in having Directors who, regardless of political party in power, cared about the Peace Corps and its mission, and we hope that’s the case regardless of the election’s outcome.
And as you foretold Trump is going through with his agenda. “Great Again”?
RPCV Thai 34. 1971-74.
This is frightening.
There’s still time to nominate the Peace Corps for a Nobel Peace Prize if you qualify as a nominator – and plenty of RPCVs do. Deadline to nominate is January 31. Electronic submissions are allowed at the Nobel website. Here’s the criterion to nominate and a sample letter.
How to Nominate the Peace Corps for a Nobel Peace Prize
Those eligible to make nominations for a Nobel Peace Prize include:
University professors, professors emeriti, and associate professors of history, social sciences, law, philosophy, theology, and religion; university rectors and university directors (or their equivalents); directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes.
Many RPCVs fit this criterion. Many of us feel that the Peace Corps is worthy of consideration. There follows a proposed letter of nomination; if you fit the criterion to be a nominator, feel free to adapt it.
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]
The Norwegian Nobel Committee Henrik Ibsens gate 51 0255 Oslo, Norway
Dear Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee,
I am honored to nominate the Peace Corps for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its extraordinary contributions to global peace, friendship, and understanding. Since its inception in 1961, the Peace Corps has been a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change in over 140 countries, embodying the very essence of international solidarity and cooperation.
The Peace Corps’ mission is grounded in three fundamental goals: to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. These goals have been tirelessly pursued by countless volunteers who dedicate their lives to promoting peace and friendship across borders.
Over the past six decades, the Peace Corps has made a profound impact in various fields, including education, health, agriculture, and community development. Volunteers work hand in hand with local communities to address pressing needs, share knowledge and skills, and foster sustainable development. This collaborative approach not only improves the quality of life for millions of people but also builds lasting relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
One of the most significant achievements of the Peace Corps is its role in fostering cultural exchange and breaking down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding. By living and working alongside people from diverse backgrounds, Peace Corps volunteers serve as ambassadors of goodwill, bridging cultural divides and promoting global citizenship. Their efforts contribute to a more interconnected and harmonious world, where differences are celebrated and common humanity is recognized.
The Peace Corps also exemplifies the power of service and volunteerism in creating a more just and peaceful world. Volunteers often work in challenging environments, facing difficulties with resilience and compassion. Their commitment to service and their unwavering belief in the potential for positive change inspire others to take action and make a difference in their own communities.
In conclusion, the Peace Corps’ enduring legacy of peace-building, cultural exchange, and sustainable development makes it a deserving candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. Its remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to the principles of peace and friendship have had a lasting and trans formative impact on the world. I am confident that recognizing the Peace Corps with this esteemed award would honor its contributions and inspire future generations to continue the pursuit of global harmony and understanding.
Thank you for considering this nomination.
old post …. any insights to the present administration.?
M
This was what I was going to ask. As someone looking to begin the process of volunteering, it seems like a lot of work to go through the appreciation process only to find the administration axes it two weeks after killing of USAID.
In response to your question, definitely go through the application process, but wait a few weeks to see the after-effects of the dissolution of USAID. My feeling (and I may be wrong), is that there is enough goodwill in Congress and within the country that Peace Corps will survive, possibly placed in the State Department, located within the embassies and with the embassies assuming posts’ non-program functions. Carefully choose your countries on the application (or for flexibility, don’t). Pick “US-friendly” countries, and figure that posts that are heavily PEPFAR-funded or have substantial environmental, etc. programs will be closed, and the Volunteers early-terminated. Good luck!
Why hasn’t a law suit been filed to stop this action?
I am supposed to begin service in June. I am concerned.
I interviewed with the Peace Corps in November 2024. The 5 year appointment would have completed my 30 years of federal service at which time I would have retired at 62. The Peace Corps leadership could not confirm if Peace Corps would still exist after Trump returned to office. They seemed terrified at the prospect of having him back in power. While I would have loved to work there, I could see my new job on the chopping block soon after Trump took office and now doubt if I would have been able to onboard at all. Glad at this point that it didn’t work out. I wish you well Peace Corps and wish the circumstances had been different.
I do fear that the Peace Corps will be eliminated by Trump, just like the other social safety net programs have been axed. In my view, Trump and Musk want to take America back to 19th century industrial capitalism when there were no labor laws, consumer protections, or other social welfare laws and programs. “Drill baby drill” will go down in the history books as the dissolution of America as we know it.
Perhaps there will be bipartisan support like in the past.
It’s a small budget item with big returns.
Trump has been in office for a month and so far the Peace Corps has survived. I would have predicted he’d end PC before going after USAID, bewildering.