Foreign service discriminates against men when it comes to promotions: report

The State Department has come under fire for allegedly discriminating against men in terms of promotions within the foreign service, as per a recent report from the Heritage Foundation. The data revealed that women were being promoted at a higher rate than men in all five foreign service officer career tracks in 2023, despite men outnumbering women in the foreign service officer corps. This trend of disparity between male and female promotions has been ongoing, with men consistently being promoted at lower rates across the board between 2020 and 2022.

Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, highlighted the discriminatory practices faced by men in the State Department, warning that such actions could lead to legal repercussions. He emphasized the need for corrective measures to restore merit-based promotion within the agency.

The Biden administration has made diversity, equity, and inclusion a top priority, with President Biden mandating federal agencies to promote equitable outcomes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed the agency’s first-ever chief diversity and inclusion officer to spearhead efforts in this direction. The State Department has committed to hiring more women for its Diplomatic Security Service by 2030 and has implemented various initiatives to promote diversity, particularly aimed at females and people of color.

Efforts to increase diversity and inclusion within the State Department have also been supported by Congress, with lawmakers introducing bills to improve promotion practices for women and minorities. Secretary Blinken reiterated the importance of building a department that reflects the diversity of the country and the world.

In contrast, the Trump administration had taken a different approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with indications that such initiatives would be terminated. President Trump had passed an executive order aimed at combating what he deemed as offensive and anti-American practices in employment practices related to race and sex stereotyping.

As the debate around diversity, equity, and inclusion continues, proponents of these initiatives have raised concerns about the future of such efforts under different administrations. Advocates stress the importance of preserving and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices across sectors to ensure tangible benefits for businesses and society as a whole.

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment on the matter but did not receive a response at the time of publication.