THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2025 19 Kingdom, Italy and San Marino, and NATO. AFSA has expressed concern that political appointees have been named to posts that historically have had career ambassadors, including Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, Estonia, and Latvia. The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is very specific in requiring that “positions as chief of mission should normally be accorded to career members of the Service, though circumstance will warrant appointments from time to time of qualified individuals who are not career members of the Service.” Similarly, “contributions to political campaigns should not be a factor in the appointment of an individual as a chief of mission.” AFSA will continue to monitor these nominations and will not hesitate to call attention to any attempt to circumvent legal requirements regarding ambassadorships. Trump Signs Order Creating Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14202 on Feb. 6, establishing a federal Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. The order directs agencies across the federal government, including the State Department, to review past activities and identify policies or actions that may have unlawfully targeted Christian individuals or institutions. Chaired by the Attorney General, the Task Force includes representatives from key departments such as State, Defense, Homeland Security, and Education. It is tasked with recommending corrective actions, proposing new policies to protect religious liberty, and advising the president on potential legislative measures. An initial report is due within 120 days, with additional reports to follow. The executive order cites suspected incidents during the previous administration, including persecution of Christian demonstrators and an FBI memo regarding “radical-traditionalist Catholics,” as evidence of what it describes as an anti-Christian bias in government. As part of this effort, a memo was circulated at State, encouraging staff to report “information regarding any Department or individual practices involving anti-religious bias during the last presidential administration (20212025); and 2) recommendations to the Secretary of State to remedy any antireligious bias at the Department.” The Task Force will remain active for two years unless extended by the president. Congo and Rwanda Sign U.S.-Brokered Peace Declaration The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a Declaration of Principles in Washington, D.C., on April 25, outlining a pathway to peace and economic development after years of violence in eastern Congo. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened the ceremony, at which DRC’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe signed on behalf of their respective governments. The agreement commits both countries to draft a formal peace deal by May 2 and refrain from supporting armed groups in the region. It also establishes plans to explore joint security coordination efforts. The Declaration, reached as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advanced in eastern DRC, is seen as a first step toward easing a decades-long conflict. AFSPA afspa.org/dental afspa.org/travel afspa.org/life Clements Worldwide Clements.com/fsj Federal Employee Defense Services fedsprotection.com/AFSA Goldberg Group Property Management GoldbergGroupPM.com McEnearney & Associates McEnearneyPM.com Promax Management PromaxManagement.com Property Specialists, Inc. PropertySpecialistsinc.com Richey Property Management RicheyPM.com/foreignservice WJD Management wjdpm.com
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