DateIssued:March19,2025
Topic:
ThisactionmandatestheremovaloftheDiversity,Equity,Inclusion,and Accessibility(DEIA)CorePreceptfromtheForeignService’stenureand promotioncriteria.
Theactionalsocallsforidentifyingandtakingappropriateaction againstanyForeignServiceOfficerswho“promote,advocatefor,or otherwiseinculcatesupportfordiscriminatoryequityideology.”
TheactionreferencesSection2ofExecutiveOrder14190,issuedJanuary 29,2025(EndingRadicalIndoctrinationinK-12Schooling),todefine “discriminatoryequityideology”as“anideologythattreatsindividuals asmembersofpreferredordisfavoredgroups,ratherthanas individuals,andminimizesagency,merit,andcapabilityinfavorof immoralgeneralizations.”
Theactionprohibitsrecruiting,hiring,promotingandrecruitment decisionsbasedonrace,color,religion,sex,ornationalorigin.
HOWWILLTHISPRESIDENTIALACTIONBEENFORCED?
TheactiondirectstheSecretaryofStatetorevisethe2022-2025Decision CriteriaforTenureandPromotionintheForeignServiceandremoveany referencetotheCorePreceptofDEIA.
TheactionisaddressedtotheSecretariesofState,Agriculture,and Commerce,theAdministratoroftheUnitedStatesAgencyfor InternationalDevelopment,andtheChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheUnited StatesAgencyforGlobalMedia. Secretariesaretodirectemployeesofall respectivedepartmentstonolongeracknowledgeorenacttheCore PreceptofDEIA.
TheactiondirectstheSecretariestoidentifyandtakeactionagainstany ForeignServiceMemberswhoarefoundtohaveengagedinanyactivities thatcanbeconsidered“illegaldiscriminationbaseduponraceorother protectedcharacteristics.”
TheactiondirectstheSecretariestodeterminewhetheranyfindingsof discriminationcommittedbyPresidentialappointeesshouldbereferred tothePresident.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Thisactionisconsistentwithabroaderagendaaimedatdismantling DEIAinitiativeswithinthefederalgovernment.
TheactionisadeparturefromtheBidenadministration’simplementation ofa5-yearDEIAStrategicPlanwithintheStateDepartment,including targetedrecruitmenteffortsaimedatincreasingdiversityand representationof“underrepresentedgroups.” RemovingDEIA considerationscouldlimitemploymentopportunitiesandcareer advancementforBlackdiplomatsandforeignserviceworkersmore broadly.
Relatedly,afocuson“merit-based”assessmentswithoutthestructural commitmentstoequitywillallowimplicitbiasesinhiringandpromotion topersist.
TheStateDepartmentsDEIA2021-2024AccomplishmentsReport highlightsthedatacollectioneffortsandclimatesurveysconductedto betterunderstandtheoverallhealthoftheworkforce.Theremovalofsuch effortsandshiftsawayfromevidence-basedsolutionstostructuralissues willalsolikelyresultinfewerinstitutionalprotectionsforBlackemployees againstimplicitandexplicitbiasesintheworkforce.
Thetargetingofthoseperceivedasengagingin“illegaldiscrimination”is alsolikelytodisproportionatelyaffectBlackemployees.
Internationally,ashiftawayfromcommitmentstoDEIAanddiversifying theforeignserviceworkforcecouldpotentiallyaffectforeignrelations, especiallyregardinghowtheU.S.engageswithAfricanandCaribbean nations.
MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)haveconsistently denouncedthecurrentadministration’stargetedattacksonDEIA, emphasizingtheimportanceoftheseeffortsforcreatingeconomic opportunitiesforBlackAmericansand,ultimately,allAmericans.Select statementsfromCBCmembersarefeaturedbelow.
Rep.TerriSewell,ChairoftheCBCFBoardofTrustees:“Weshouldallsee theTrumpAdministration’sattacksonDEIforwhattheyreallyare—an attempttowhitewashourhistoryanddevaluethecontributionsofAfrican Americans.Throughoutthenextfouryears,weasAmericanswillneedto remainespeciallyvigilantagainstattacksonBlackhistory,andaselected officials,weshouldbepreparedtocallthemout.”FullStatement
Rep.HakeemJeffries,HouseDemocraticLeader:“HouseDemocrats believeinmeritforeveryone,basedonwhatyouknow,notwhoyouknow. That’swhatdiversity,equityandinclusionhelpstopromote.Theyare AmericanvaluesbasedonthewordsofourConstitutionandournational creed—outofmany,one.”FullStatement HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?