The State Department has announced it will discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements in its foreign service training, following an internal review that found such content lingering in personnel instructions and educational materials. The decision, outlined in a department press release, marks a shift away from policies that had integrated DEI principles into both domestic and international operations.
The move underscores a broader debate over the role of DEI initiatives in federal agencies, with critics arguing these policies promoted ideological conformity and detracted from core diplomatic functions. Supporters of the change contend that removing DEI requirements is necessary to maintain focus on traditional diplomatic skills and prevent the spread of what they describe as divisive or unpopular ideas within national institutions.
Internal Review and DEI Materials Identified
According to the State Department, the internal review identified a range of DEI-related resources in use throughout the department. These included materials such as “How to Be Anti-Racist in [Humanitarian] Aid,” Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility and the Rules of Engagement, and “From White Racist to White Anti-Racist.” Other documents cited in the review included “Where are you in your understanding of your whiteness?”, “Tools for interrupting microaggressions,” “Anti-Racism for Kids 101,” and “In Defense of Looting.” The latter described looting by groups like the Black Panthers as “one of the most righteous anti-white supremacist tactics available throughout American history.”
Guidance for Foreign Service Officers had previously encouraged diplomats to discuss DEI issues with foreign government counterparts, demonstrate “allyship,” and independently acquire more DEIA knowledge. According to a State Department memo cited in the review, these requirements had become embedded in training and personnel guidelines. The department stated that these requirements will now be removed from both training and personnel instructions.
Shift in Training Focus
A spokesperson for the State Department, Tommy Pigott, emphasized the department's new direction. “Under the current administration the department is committed to focusing on 'statecraft' in its training of foreign service personnel,” Pigott said. The department plans to prioritize traditional diplomatic training and statecraft, moving away from the previous emphasis on DEI frameworks.
This policy change comes after nearly two years of efforts by the Trump administration to roll back DEI policies across federal agencies. The administration had argued that DEI initiatives introduced ideological content into government operations and distracted from the agencies’ primary missions. The State Department’s latest decision is consistent with this broader federal approach.
Broader Context and Reactions
The department also referenced the recent disbanding of USAID, which officials said had shifted away from its original mission. Critics of USAID accused the agency of promoting anti-Americanism abroad and advancing global leftist agendas. According to the State Department, the closure of USAID was intended to halt the use of government resources for such purposes.
While the administration has taken steps to dismantle DEI frameworks, the State Department acknowledged that the process of removing such policies from federal agencies is ongoing. Critics of the previous administration’s approach argue that DEI initiatives were intended to promote inclusion and address systemic inequities. As of now, supporters of DEI have not responded directly to the latest policy change at the State Department.
The department said it will continue to review its training and personnel policies, with further updates to be provided as the review process continues. Officials emphasized that the primary goal is to ensure foreign service personnel are equipped with skills and knowledge focused on traditional diplomatic practice and statecraft.
The State Department’s decision highlights the ongoing national debate over the role of DEI in government, reflecting differing views on how best to prepare diplomats for service at home and abroad.
