WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it will overhaul policies within the diplomatic personnel system, ending a series of protocols established to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
In a statement, the department said the DEI agenda had been embedded in the institutional culture of the Foreign Service during the previous administration. It said these objectives and materials "shamefully denigrated the United States, derided Americans of certain backgrounds, and distracted from legitimate foreign policy objectives."
The department published a list of specific policies and workplace practices slated for removal from the Foreign Service. The action marks a clear shift in how the nation's diplomatic corps will operate.
Among the materials cited, Foreign Service instructors were allegedly required to read critical race theory texts, including "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo and "In Defense of Looting" by Vicky Osterweil.
Instructors also allegedly received a "DEI toolkit" designed for discussing "white privilege" and "systemic racism" in foreign languages including Urdu and Hebrew. An "Inclusivity Guide" for integrating "non-binary pronouns" into course materials was also reportedly provided.
The department said America's diplomats are the nation's "first line of defense against hostile powers, terrorists, deadly narcotics smuggling, illegal immigration, and other threats to the safety, security, and prosperity of the American people."
The policy change aligns with President Donald Trump's broader agenda since his return to the White House in January 2025. Trump has consistently targeted DEI programs across federal agencies.
On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing," which instructed federal employees to "terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and 'environmental justice' offices and positions."
The order also mandated termination of "all 'equity action plans,' 'equity' actions, initiatives, or programs, 'equity-related' grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees." Adherence to DEI policies had previously been a factor in evaluating Foreign Service officers.
During the Biden administration, one piece of DEI material from the Foreign Service, obtained by Fox News Digital, instructed offices to "routinely raise social inclusion, racial/gender equity, disability, and LGBTQI+ issues with high-level host country interlocutors, especially in countries where these issues are problematic."
Separately, the State Department has revoked 175,000 visas for foreign nationals, citing violations as part of the administration's broader immigration and national security enforcement.
