The State Department under the Trump administration has eliminated guidelines from the Biden era that instructed diplomats to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) agendas to foreign officials and governments. A State Department spokesperson stated that under the current administration, American diplomats are tasked with advocating for national interests, not promoting "woke political dogmas."
Official documents from the Biden administration revealed directives for personnel to integrate DEIA and LGBTQI+ issues into high-level discussions and bilateral dialogues with foreign counterparts. One document posed questions such as, "Do Front Offices routinely raise social inclusion, racial/gender equity, disability, and LGBTQI+ issues with high-level host country interlocutors, especially in countries where these issues are problematic, and are these issues included in bilateral dialogues, whenever appropriate?"
A Front Office is defined as the immediate leadership and executive staff within a specific State Department bureau or office. Previously, adherence to DEIA policies was reportedly considered in official reviews and promotion decisions for personnel. These criteria have reportedly been removed under the Trump administration.
Further guidance documents discussed "allyship," prompting questions for staff like, "Do you speak up – in the moment – to support colleagues and try to help all understand when there might be bias that undermines inclusivity?" This included efforts to break down biases related to race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQI+, and disability, as well as biases within the civil service, foreign service, U.S. direct hires, and contracting colleagues.
The guidelines also encouraged employees to take initiative in learning about DEIA independently, rather than relying on colleagues from historically marginalized groups. Additionally, Front Offices were directed to ensure employee support for a DEIA Council or to support the creation of one if it did not exist.
Questions were also raised regarding how bias is discussed and mitigated within diplomatic missions and in interactions with host nations. The documents inquired about the development of localized DEIA trainings for all job categories, including U.S. direct hire and locally employed staff, and channels for locally employed staff and other groups to provide input on advancing DEIA.
A spokesperson for the State Department indicated that the department is implementing reforms focused on prioritizing merit, refining training on tangible diplomatic skills, and preparing diplomats to address pressing global challenges.