WASHINGTON - Peace Corps announced it is officially phasing out of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Republic of Palau after many years of partnership. The phase out is due to operational and infrastructure challenges in areas ranging from vast geographic distances, medical care and transportation, and recurring staff vacancies.

 Peace Corps will phase out its volunteer operations in FSM, where there are currently 25 volunteers serving in the education sector, by June 30, 2018. This timeline will allow the volunteers to complete their primary assignments through the end of the school year and transfer knowledge to their communities and counterparts. Peace Corps remains fully committed to supporting the volunteers during this time as they complete their service. 

 The last class of volunteers departed Palau in July 2017, having completed their assignments.

 Peace Corps is grateful to the people and governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau for their partnership and friendship. Since 1966, more than 4,300 volunteers have served in the region of Micronesia, working to address the need for trained men and women in agriculture, education, health, youth development, and community economic development.

 Long after the last volunteer’s departure, the most essential component of these nations’ cooperation with Peace Corps will remain in the fellowship between volunteers and their host families, colleagues, and friends. Returned volunteers' ongoing contributions as informal citizen ambassadors for FSM and Palau will serve as a lasting legacy of mutual collaboration. Many former volunteers have remained in these countries, continuing to contribute in a personal capacity to the development of the region.

In the Pacific, Peace Corps will continue to operate programs in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.