AFSA NEWS 60 MARCH-APRIL 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL weaken the Service, standing as it does as a force for independent advice, with strong norms for principled behavior and career professionalism. Meanwhile, congressional committees that want to leave their mark on the mechanisms of diplomacy have voiced their intention to institute “reforms” of the system. In 2026 there is interest in change, and we want to be the ones to shape it. But any change will need to start on Capitol Hill. With the administration unwilling to engage on even the smallest of matters, any reforms will need to be legislatively driven. With this in mind, AFSA is focusing on what might come next, and our survey results gave us clues as to what our members want. Top Concerns First we asked members what concerns them most. The dismemberment of entire agencies (i.e., USAID, USAGM), not to mention the wholesale attack on entire bureaus and hundreds of employees, is at the top of the list. But beyond these catastrophic events, other issues are of equal concern to our members. Many changes to the rules governing harassment and a hostile workplace, RIF rules, appointments of senior officials, and other measures have been written into the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM)—without consultation with AFSA—and will be challenging to undo in the future. Our members also indicated their unease with the new fidelity precept, which has been poorly defined to the workforce. How will notions of “fidelity” be used in future promotion board deliberations, and will politically appointed supervisors be able to use this against the career staff? Another concern was the abrupt cancellation of detail assignments in summer 2025, which left almost 200 people without assignments. Just as seriously, the decision burned bridges with the host organizations—military, educational institutions, local governments, and private companies—costing them anticipated staff and students and undoing years of relationship building. Finally, members also expressed concern about the elimination of the annuity exception, an important safety net for a small number of FS members who find their long-term career prospects stymied by hiring bulges or an assignment history that does not allow for rapid promotions. Essential FS Fundamentals Those were our members’ main concerns in this dramatic year. But what aspects of the Foreign Service do they most value and want to preserve? An incredible 98 percent of those surveyed said that nonpartisanship should be the bedrock of the Foreign Service. No surprises there. Second on the list (at 87 percent) was maintaining collective bargaining—a response we at AFSA found gratifying. Next, in order of support, came opportunities to move up into positions of senior leadership, pretenure FAST training, the ability to frequently change assignments, and the preservation of the FS grievance process. Other FS basics that received high scores include the ability to frequently change assignments, and have career mix of overseas and domestic tours, the ability to take short-term tours outside the department, the up or out system, and the tenuring process. Unhappiness with the current employee evaluation process and the annual assignments season was thoroughly noted in respondents’ written responses; clearly these are perennial pain points, no matter which administration is in power. But given the unlikelihood that the current administration would be willing to deal with these items in a way that benefits the workforce, these matters may be best left for a future administration. In a year when so much was wrong in FS workplaces, our members also indicated what they valued the most. Any reforms need to maintain the main attractions of the FS, chief among them the commitment to public service and advancing U.S. interests and values (80 percent). Members also appreciate opportunities to move and change jobs frequently (57 percent) and the opportunity to use language and cultural skills (44 percent). AFSA’S Advocacy Priorities With survey results in mind, we are lining up our priorities for Foreign Service reform in 2026. In considering specific proposals, we need to keep in mind that Congress is most interested in reforms that create efficiencies and remain “revenue neutral.” Congress also wants changes that can be described succinctly and are easy for voters to grasp. What do our members want to see? Leading the way is protection of the FS career pathway, from FASTO through mid-levels to positions of leadership in the Senior Foreign Service (SFS). In second place, we find protection of career positions in the face of political appointments. Forestalling cuts to the overall foreign affairs budget that would threaten the ability for members of the FS to do their jobs thoroughly and with proper support is next on the list. Following that are two concepts with almost identical scores: upholding the EER/Foreign Service Selection Board process and protecting the integrity of the assignments process. Finally, preservation/proAt the Breaking Point Continued from page 55
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