A tight budget has caused the Peace Corps to consider downsizing — consolidating recruitment offices and cutting back on new volunteers.

The program has a budget of $330.8 million, but faces a shortfall of $18 million this fiscal year and the next. The organization's fiscal woes are due to the declining value of the dollar overseas coupled with the increasing costs of energy and other commodities.

These factors mean more expenses for leases overseas, volunteer living costs and salaries for staff abroad.

Those developments "have materially reduced our available resources and spending power," Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter wrote to Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds the program. "Tough budgetary decisions must be made now in order to ensure a financially healthy agency next fiscal year."

The agency estimates it has lost about $9.2 million for fiscal 2008.

The problem is exacerbated by the political confrontation between Congress and President Bush over the federal budget, the Washington Post reports. If final passage of spending bills that fund the government are delayed until the president leaves office, agencies such as the Peace Corps could be forced to operate at current funding levels for the time being.

The Peace Corps plans to scale back the number of new volunteers next year by 400 and managers at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington have been asked to reduce their budgets by 15.5 percent.

Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps still does important work for America and the world. Its volunteers teach useful skills, share practical advice and lead worthwhile projects in countries around the globe.

The volunteers promote understanding between Americans and people of other nations. We should not be cutting back on these endeavors, but increasing them if possible. Congress should find a way to provide the necessary funds.