State Department mandates DEI requirement for employment and promotion.
State Department Requires Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Employment and Promotion
According to documentation obtained by The Epoch Times, individuals seeking employment or promotion at the State Department must fulfill a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirement. The document titled “Decision Criteria for Tenure And Promotion In The Foreign Service 2022–2025” outlines the expectations for Foreign Service employees.
The Foreign Service, which comprises 16,000 career diplomats stationed worldwide, emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. These qualities are considered essential competencies that employees must develop throughout their careers to be eligible for promotion within the Senior Foreign Service.
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The DEI requirement is one of the five core precepts that employees must demonstrate, alongside communication, leadership, management, and substantive and technical experience. These standards apply to all members of the Foreign Service, and the department’s Selection Board considers them crucial factors for entry and advancement within the department.
President Joe Biden has shown his commitment to DEI by signing executive orders that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in the federal workforce. However, DEI has faced criticism from conservatives who argue that it prioritizes identity politics over merit.
The criteria for entry-level employees include actively promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in interactions with colleagues and demonstrating inclusivity and respect. Mid-level employees must consistently exemplify these criteria while advancing DEI and accessibility in their words and actions. Candidates for supervisory roles must actively strive to recruit and retain diverse teams, ensure equitable consideration for all candidates, and support equity in staff opportunities and recognition.
For those seeking promotion into and within the Senior Foreign Service, DEI requirements include fostering a culture of inclusion, addressing allegations of discrimination and harassment, and creating collaborative work environments. Critics argue that these requirements prioritize ideology over experience and skillset.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) expressed concerns about the State Department’s DEI promotion criteria, stating that penalizing individuals based on their ability to implement DEI measures is ambiguous and subjective. He called on the department to prioritize hiring and promoting individuals based on their qualifications rather than their appearance.
Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former State Department employee, also criticized the DEI requirement, highlighting the potential drawbacks of prioritizing ideology over merit.
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