Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory Equity Ideology From the Foreign Service
President Trump issued a memorandum to eliminate discrimination and what he terms “discriminatory equity ideology” from the Foreign Service. The memorandum directs the Secretary of State and other relevant Secretaries to revise hiring, promotion, and retention policies to be merit-based, prohibiting decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and the promotion of discriminatory equity ideology.
Existing criteria referencing ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’ are to be removed.
The Secretaries are tasked with investigating potential past discrimination and taking appropriate action.
Arguments For
Intended benefits: This action aims to ensure that hiring and promotion in the Foreign Service are based solely on merit, eliminating bias and promoting fairness.
Evidence cited: The memorandum cites the embedding of divisive and discriminatory policies in the Federal Government over the past four years, indicating a need for corrective action.
Implementation methods: The Secretary of State is directed to revise existing criteria, and all relevant Secretaries are instructed to direct their employees to disregard the ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’ precept.
Legal/historical basis: The memorandum draws upon Executive Order 14190 (Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling) and Executive Order 14211 (One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations) as a basis for its action.
Arguments Against
Potential impacts: The removal of ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’ considerations may negatively affect the diversity of the Foreign Service and potentially hinder efforts to represent a variety of perspectives.
Implementation challenges: Revising existing criteria and ensuring consistent implementation across different departments and agencies could prove challenging and time-consuming.
Alternative approaches: Alternative approaches might include implementing comprehensive diversity training or establishing clear guidelines to prevent discrimination without eliminating DEI considerations entirely.
Unintended effects: This action could potentially lead to legal challenges, particularly if it results in disproportionate impacts on certain protected groups.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA
SUBJECT: Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory Equity Ideology From the Foreign Service
This memorandum addresses the removal of discrimination and what it defines as 'discriminatory equity ideology' within the Foreign Service. It directs several key Secretaries and agency heads to take specific actions to achieve this goal.
Section 1. Policy and Purpose. Over the last 4 years, divisive and discriminatory policies were systematically embedded into every part of the Federal Government, including hiring processes and employee performance evaluations in the Foreign Service. It is the policy of the Federal Government that hiring in foreign policy positions, like hiring in all other parts of the Government, shall be based solely on merit.
The memorandum's purpose is to establish a policy of merit-based hiring in the Foreign Service. It asserts that discriminatory policies were implemented over the past four years and aims to rectify this.
Sec. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this memorandum:
(a) “discriminatory equity ideology” shall have the meaning given that phrase in section 2 of Executive Order 14190 of January 29, 2025 (Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling);
(b) “Department,” “Foreign Service,” and “Secretary” shall have the meanings given those terms in 22 U.S.C. 3902; and (c) “Foreign Service Member” means an individual described by 22 U.S.C. 3903.
This section defines key terms used in the memorandum, including 'discriminatory equity ideology', referencing Executive Order 14190 and clarifying definitions for 'Department', 'Foreign Service', 'Secretary', and 'Foreign Service Member' based on existing U.S. Code.
Sec. 3. Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Foreign Service. (a) The Secretary of State shall, consistent with applicable law, promptly revise the 2022-2025 Decision Criteria for Tenure and Promotion in the Foreign Service, issued under section 2326.2 of title 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, to remove any reference to the Core Precept entitled “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.” The Secretaries shall promptly direct all employees of their Departments not to give this Core Precept any force or effect.
(b) The Secretaries shall direct all officers and employees of their Departments not to:
(i) base Foreign Service recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention decisions upon an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
(ii) while acting in an official capacity, promote, advocate for, or otherwise inculcate support for discriminatory equity ideology.
(c) The Secretaries shall determine if any current Foreign Service Members have knowingly and willfully engaged in unconstitutional or otherwise illegal discrimination based upon race or other protected characteristics, including actions motivated by discriminatory equity ideology. Consistent with Executive Order 14211 of February 12, 2025 (One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations) the Secretaries shall:
(i) with respect to Foreign Service Members appointed by a Secretary whom that Secretary finds to have engaged in such discrimination, take appropriate action; and
(ii) with respect to Foreign Service Members appointed by the President, determine whether to refer any findings of discrimination for the President’s consideration or take appropriate action under the Secretary’s own authority.
This section outlines specific actions to be taken to ensure equality and non-discrimination.
The Secretary of State is instructed to revise existing promotion criteria, removing references to DEI, while all relevant Secretaries are to direct their employees to cease basing decisions on protected characteristics and to refrain from promoting ‘discriminatory equity ideology’.
They are also charged with investigating past discriminatory actions and taking appropriate disciplinary measures.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This section includes general provisions clarifying that the memorandum does not limit the authority of executive departments or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
It emphasizes that implementation must comply with existing laws and the availability of funds, and importantly, states that the memorandum creates no new legal rights or benefits.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This indicates the signature of the President issuing the memorandum.