The U.S. State Department announced on August 13, 2025, that it has ended diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies incorporated into the training curricula of the Foreign Service. The decision follows a March 2025 memorandum from President Donald Trump directing the removal of DEI-related criteria from promotion and tenure evaluations in the Foreign Service.
The State Department stated that the reforms aim to restore merit-based promotion standards and refocus training on practical diplomatic skills. A department spokesperson told reporters that the changes were part of modernization efforts to ensure diplomats prioritize national interests over ideological objectives.
Key changes implemented:
- Removal of DEI-related language from the 2022–2025 “Decision Criteria for Tenure and Promotion in the Foreign Service.”
- Elimination of DEI-focused training modules, including references to “microaggressions,” “allyship,” and “social inclusion.”
- Reinstatement of merit-based evaluations for promotions, replacing prior criteria that assessed adherence to DEI principles.
The State Department described the reforms as a return to “the highest standards of American diplomacy”, emphasizing that diplomats should focus on foreign policy objectives rather than internal ideological training. A fact sheet released by the department stated that DEI policies had been “embedded in the institutional culture” of the Foreign Service during the previous administration.
Background and context
The Biden administration had incorporated DEI principles into Foreign Service training and promotion processes, including directives for diplomats to advocate for DEI issues in bilateral dialogues with foreign governments. Under those guidelines, diplomats were evaluated on their commitment to DEI principles, which some officials argued distracted from core diplomatic functions.
The Trump administration’s memorandum in March 2025 explicitly called for the removal of DEI references from promotion criteria, stating that such policies were “ideologically extreme and discriminatory.” The State Department confirmed that the reforms were being implemented in alignment with that directive.
Reactions and implications
A State Department official framed the changes as a restoration of rigor and accountability, asserting that diplomats should be judged on their ability to advance U.S. interests rather than their adherence to specific ideological frameworks. The department also noted that the reforms were intended to address concerns about fairness in promotions, with reports suggesting that nearly 300 Foreign Service Officers had been impacted by DEI-related promotion criteria under the previous administration.
The White House did not provide an independent response, referring inquiries to the State Department. The announcement comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back DEI policies across federal agencies, including the recent termination of race-based admissions in military officer commissioning programs.