On March 19, 2025, the White House released a memorandum outlining new policies aimed at eliminating discrimination in the hiring and promotion processes within the Foreign Service. The memorandum states that recruitment and personnel decisions should be based strictly on merit and mandates the removal of any references to ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’ from the guidelines governing tenure and promotion. Additionally, the policy instructs department heads to ensure that no discriminatory equity ideology influences official actions or decisions.

The memorandum further details the responsibilities of various Secretaries in addressing past discriminatory practices and emphasizes the need to investigate any current Foreign Service Members who may have engaged in unconstitutional discrimination based on race or other protected characteristics. It stresses that appropriate actions must be taken against those found to have violated these policies, while clarifying that this directive does not interfere with existing legal authorities or functions of government agencies.

Overall, this initiative reflects a significant shift in policy regarding the Foreign Service, prioritizing merit-based hiring and the removal of ideologies deemed discriminatory. The memorandum underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring equality in the hiring process and creating a more inclusive environment free from bias.

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