Tracking Trump's executive orders: DEI programs in Foreign Service

Executive Order 14173: Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory Equity Ideology From the Foreign Service

Date Signed: March 19, 2025

Status: Implemented 

Key Provisions:

• The Executive Office has declared that the “discriminatory” hiring practices outlined in Executive Order 14173 will now also be applied to appointments and hiring in the foreign service.
• The Executive Office reaffirmed their harmful position that DEI-related actions are unlawful and mandates that hiring be based solely on merit.
• President Trump also ordered that employees and foreign service members cannot advocate for or support policies that support or mention “Discriminatory Equity Ideology” (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accountability).

Interfaith Alliance Counterpoints:

• Interfaith Alliance condemns the removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) considerations from hiring and promotion in the Foreign Service, as mandated by this Executive Order. 
• These employment practices are a safeguard against discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, and religion, and help to create a more inclusive and equitable workforce. These efforts ensure that individuals from all backgrounds - especially those who have historically faced discrimination - have a fair chance to succeed based on merit, fostering a Foreign Service that reflects the diversity of the nation it represents.  
• The administration’s decision disregards these practices’ critical role in addressing systemic barriers and ensuring equal opportunity in federal employment. By removing these guardrails, the Trump administration is putting marginalized communities at a greater risk of being subjected to employment discrimination, including based on their deeply held religious and spiritual beliefs.