<P> Although the earliest volunteers were typically thought of as generalists, the Peace Corps had requests for technical personnel from the start . For example, geologists were among the first volunteers requested by Ghana, an early volunteer host . An article in Geotimes (a trade publication) in 1963, reviewed the program, with a follow - up history of Peace Corps geoscientists appearing in that publication in 2004 . During the Nixon Administration the Peace Corps included foresters, computer scientists, and small business advisors among its volunteers . </P> <P> In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed director Loret Miller Ruppe, who initiated business - related programs . For the first time, a significant number of conservative and Republican volunteers joined the Corps, as the organization continued to reflect the evolving political and social conditions in the United States . Funding cuts during the early 1980s reduced the number of volunteers to 5,380, its lowest level since the early years . Funding increased in 1985, when Congress began raising the number of volunteers, reaching 10,000 in 1992 . </P> <P> After the 2001 September 11 attacks, which alerted the U.S. to growing anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East, President George W. Bush pledged to double the size of the organization within five years as a part of the War on Terrorism . For the 2004 fiscal year, Congress increased the budget to US $325 million, US $30 million above that of 2003 but US $30 million below the President's request . </P> <P> As part of an economic stimulus package in 2008, President Barack Obama proposed to double the size of the Peace Corps . However, as of 2010, the amount requested was insufficient to reach this goal by 2011 . In fact, the number of applicants to the Peace Corps has declined steadily from a high of 15,384 in 2009 to 10,091 in 2012 . Congress raised the 2010 appropriation from the US $373 million requested by the President to US $400 million, and proposed bills would raise this further for 2011 and 2012 . According to former director Gaddi Vasquez, the Peace Corps is trying to recruit more diverse volunteers of different ages and make it look "more like America". A Harvard International Review article from 2007 proposes to expand the Peace Corps, revisit its mission and equip it with new technology . In 1961 only 1% of volunteers were over 50, compared with 5% today . Ethnic minorities currently comprise 19% of volunteers . 35% of the U.S. population are Hispanic or non-White . </P>

Where does the peace corps get its funding