State Department eliminates DEI from hiring and promotion, now requiring ‘fidelity’ and loyalty from U.S. diplomats abroad.

State Department Overhauls Hiring Standards for Diplomats

The State Department has announced the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements from its hiring and promotion criteria for foreign service officers, marking a major policy shift. Effective immediately, the department’s evaluation process will instead prioritize “fidelity,” placing new emphasis on loyalty and commitment to U.S. government policy and leadership.

Previously, the State Department’s core hiring guidelines required entry-level applicants to proactively improve their self-awareness around inclusivity and expected mid- and senior-level supervisors to recruit diverse teams and address non-inclusive behavior. The 2022–2025 guidelines explicitly called for impact in DEI and accessibility as a metric for advancement.

Those criteria have now been dropped. According to internal documents, the updated 2025–2028 guide lists “fidelity” first among five precepts, followed by communication, leadership, management, and knowledge. Diplomats at all levels are now evaluated on their ability to “zealously execute U.S. government policy” and “resolve uncertainty on the side of fidelity to one’s chain of command.”

A senior State Department official welcomed the change, saying, “This is a commonsense and needed change. U.S. Foreign Service Officers represent America overseas and should be judged on their ability to faithfully and dutifully represent and champion our country abroad.” The official also called it “unbelievable” that fidelity had not previously been a formal part of promotion standards.

Broader Federal Efforts and Workforce Restructuring

The policy overhaul comes amid a broader effort across the federal government to eliminate DEI programs and remove employees perceived as undermining President Donald Trump’s agenda. The State Department has also frozen its Foreign Service Officer Test, normally administered three times a year, while planning a comprehensive restructuring of its workforce.

In May, the department submitted a proposal to Congress outlining a 15% staff reduction—about 2,850 positions—from its current workforce of 19,000. The plan also includes consolidating over 300 bureaus and agency offices. These moves are intended to streamline the department and ensure a workforce aligned with administration priorities.

Despite a temporary pause on mass layoffs due to a federal court order, a recent Supreme Court ruling limited the authority of district courts to issue nationwide injunctions, leaving the door open for further administrative changes in the coming months.

The State Department’s shift away from DEI and toward fidelity represents a significant recalibration of U.S. diplomatic standards, signaling a new era in how America’s envoys are selected, evaluated, and promoted on the global stage.