18 JUNE 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL “No American should be silent,” the letter reads. “Each of us must speak out, mobilize, and defend our way of life. The moment requires nothing less.” See https://bit.ly/42zaeOz to read the full letter. Trump Order Ends Workplace DEI The Trump administration has rescinded all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies, framing the move as a return to “neutral and nondiscriminatory principles” in federal hiring and promotion. A March 19 executive order signed by President Donald Trump directs the elimination of what the White House described as “discriminatory DEI ideology,” ordering agencies to dismantle any programs, offices, or policies created to advance equity or address systemic discrimination. The order mandates the removal of any language referencing DEI from official agency documents, including Foreign Service promotion precepts, performance evaluations, and position descriptions. Affected offices include the State Department’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which is now slated for closure. According to a White House fact sheet, the decision aims to ensure that “selection and advancement in the Foreign Service be based solely on merit and competence.” The administration’s shift coincides with the release of the 2024 Human Rights Report, which notably omitted discussions of LGBTQ+ rights and genderbased violence in several countries, T his month, we highlight Service Disrupted, an advocacy site developed by AFSA to raise awareness about the critical threats facing the U.S. Foreign Service, diplomacy, and development. The site is part of a broader outreach campaign to educate the public and policymakers about real-world consequences of diplomatic understaffing and politicization. Service Disrupted outlines how hiring freezes, budget cuts, and structural upheaval have led to a sharp decline in Foreign Service personnel, which undermines U.S. economic leadership and diplomatic capacity. The site effectively breaks down how a weakened Foreign Service can result in increased military interventions, missed economic opportunities, diminished global influence, and a retreat from democratic values on the world stage. Through accessible storytelling and data-driven insights, it makes a compelling case for restoring and strengthening America’s diplomatic corps. Service Disrupted is a timely resource for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, global leadership, and the future of American diplomacy. Read more at https://servicedisrupted.org. Site of the Month: Service Disrupted The appearance of a particular site or podcast is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement. according to a Politico analysis. Critics see the omissions—and the executive order—as part of a broader rollback of rights-based diplomacy and civil rights enforcement. Some Foreign Service advocates have warned that dismantling DEI programs will harm recruitment and retention, particularly among underrepresented groups, and undermine U.S. credibility abroad on issues of human rights and inclusion. Without consultation with AFSA on the previously agreed-on precepts, the State Department instructed all employees and their raters/reviewers to remove any reference to DEI in annual reviews being prepared for the rating period ending on April 15, 2025. Ambassador Tracker As of late April, the administration had slowly but steadily rolled out nominations for senior posts and ambassadorships. The Senate has confirmed a few, but many more have yet to make it through the confirmation gauntlet. AFSA is tracking 23 appointments to senior positions at the Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture. As of April 30, only four of those individuals have been confirmed. Only one of those nominations has gone to a career member of the Foreign Service: Andrew Veprek, who was nominated to be assistant secretary of State for population, refugees, and migration, remains unconfirmed. There have been 48 nominations for ambassadorships since late January, and every single one of those nominees is a political appointee. By April 30, only 10 of those had been confirmed, to lead posts in China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Panama, Türkiye, United
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