On March 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a memorandum that eliminates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the Foreign Service. The memorandum instructs the Secretary of State to remove DEI-related criteria from tenure and promotion decisions, stating that recruitment and retention should not be influenced by an individual’s race, sex, religion, or national origin. This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to prioritize merit-based hiring practices across the federal government.
The memorandum reflects President Trump’s belief that previous policies under the Biden administration promoted divisive practices by conditioning promotions on an employee’s commitment to DEI initiatives. The Biden administration had implemented a strategic plan that included a DEIA Climate Survey and focused on recruiting from underrepresented groups, which the current administration has characterized as discriminatory. By terminating these DEI programs, President Trump aims to restore what he describes as fairness and accountability in hiring processes within federal agencies.
In conjunction with this memorandum, President Trump had previously signed an Executive Order early in his term that called for a merit-based approach to hiring and promotions. The current directive reinforces this stance, asserting that appointments to foreign policy positions should be based on qualifications rather than ideological criteria or quotas. These actions are presented as a commitment to ensuring that the most competent individuals are selected for roles within the Foreign Service.
Original: article