7,300 Peace Corps Volunteers just lost their jobs. They had no notice and have no recourse. They deserve better.

Peace Corps just fired every Volunteer and Trainee in the world without a warning, a safety net, or even a clear plan. Not furloughed, not put on leave - fired. Every Invitee, Trainee, and Volunteer who put their life on hold to serve their country abroad has now been put on hold in turn, in the middle of a global economic crisis. This is indefensible and unacceptable.

The only reason this can happen is because Peace Corps refuses to classify Volunteers as government employees. Our only voice in service was Advisory Committees, which only had as much of a say as each Country Director allowed; we had no HR, no independent place to petition any decision, and no way to influence Headquarters’ decisions, then or now. Peace Corps only exists as long as it has us: Peace Corps Volunteers, Trainees, and Invitees. We stand together to ask for more.That is why we’re asking Congress to step in. 

Peace Corps Volunteers, Trainees, and Invitees need structural overhaul, starting with recognizing Peace Corps Volunteers for the work we do by making us government employees. Without our service, the organization wouldn’t exist. The entire purpose of Peace Corps’ infrastructure should be to help Volunteers serve successfully, and the best way to do that is to listen to us. We want to do our jobs, and we’re the workers on the ground living the everyday realities of Volunteer life. We have valuable insights to share, and we deserve a voice in how Peace Corps functions - as employees. 

We also deserve benefits. Peace Corps has successfully lobbied for budget renewal each year in part on the talking point that it does more with less money. We can see clearly now that the only reason that’s true is because it does not adequately provide for Volunteers, Trainees, and Invitees, who have been left without resources or a job in the middle of a global economic downturn.

• Despite COVID-19, Peace Corps will only provide for 2-3 months of (non-ACA-compliant) health insurance for evacuated Volunteers; it may take far longer than that to receive non-emergency care.
• Despite COVID-19, Peace Corps evacuated every Volunteer to their home of record without an appropriate quarantine period or immediate financial assistance to self-quarantine.
• Despite COVID-19 causing a global economic downturn, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees are not eligible to file for unemployment - because as far as Peace Corps is concerned, we weren’t employed to begin with. 

These are just a few examples of the problems that come from refusing to listen to us and take our concerns seriously.

We served our country abroad with pride, and we want to return to work as soon as possible - with guarantees that the organization will change to ensure this never happens again. We joined Peace Corps with big dreams of changing the world an inch at a time, but Peace Corps won’t even listen to us. It is Congress’ job to regulate and oversee Peace Corps; we ask that Congress fulfill its regulatory duties and reform Peace Corps now.

The Volunteer title is a source of pride, and it’s being used to disenfranchise PCV/Ts. That must stop. Peace Corps only exists as long as it has us: Peace Corps Volunteers, Trainees, and Invitees. We stand together to ask for more.