Trump ends diversity programming at the State Department 

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order eliminating diversity programming at the State Department, wiping out the Biden administration’s initiative to remove barriers to employment for underrepresented groups. 

Trump’s order directs the State Department to remove the “‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility’ Core Precept from Foreign Service tenure and promotion criteria.” 

The order further directs the U.S. government to not base foreign service recruitment, hiring, promotion or retention decisions on an individual's race, color, religion, sex or national origin. 

“Relevant agencies shall identify and take appropriate action regarding any Foreign Service Officer who knowingly and willfully engaged in illegal discrimination,” the order reads.

The Biden administration created the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, reporting to the secretary of State, charged with increasing representation among underrepresented groups. Among the office’s initiatives was creating a Demographic Baseline Report. 

“The data allows the Department to assess whether its workforce reflects the rich diversity of our nation. The data is also used to examine if there are potential anomalies that may be indicative of a barrier to equal employment opportunity,” the State Department said at the time.