The federal government has issued a memorandum aimed at eliminating discriminatory practices and ideologies from the Foreign Service. The directive, addressed to key officials including the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, outlines a shift towards merit-based hiring within foreign policy positions.
The memorandum highlights that over the past four years, divisive policies have infiltrated various governmental processes, affecting hiring and performance evaluations in the Foreign Service. It emphasizes that "hiring in foreign policy positions, like hiring in all other parts of the Government, shall be based solely on merit."
A significant part of this directive involves revising existing criteria for tenure and promotion within the Foreign Service. Specifically, it instructs the Secretary of State to remove references to "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility" from decision-making guidelines. This aligns with a broader effort to prevent recruitment or promotion decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Additionally, the memorandum mandates an assessment of current Foreign Service Members to identify any involvement in unconstitutional discrimination. In cases where such behavior is confirmed among appointees by Secretaries or the President, appropriate actions are prescribed.
While outlining these changes, the memorandum clarifies that it does not alter existing legal authorities or functions related to budgetary or legislative proposals. Furthermore, it states that no new legal rights or benefits are created through this directive.
