The Civilian Response Corps is a group of federal employees and volunteers from the private sector, state and local governments who are trained to deploy rapidly in countries that are in crisis or emerging from conflict in order to provide reconstruction and stabilization assistance.

In passing Section 1207, the United States Congress wrote about the need for a civilian response capability for stabilization and reconstruction activities in countries that are prone to conflict.

In the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, the United States Congress provided up to $75 million in initial funding for the active and standby components of the Civilian Response Corps.

To coordinate reconstruction efforts between the military and civilian elements, the President signed into law National Security Presidential Directive 44 on December 7, 2005.

[13] In National Security Presidential Directive – 44 (NSPD-44), the president stated the need to create a cohesive and permanent mechanism for the US government to address stabilization and reconstruction issues abroad.