The U.S. State Department is under fire for alleged gender discrimination against men in its promotion practices for foreign service officers. According to a study conducted by the Heritage Foundation, women were promoted at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts in 2023, despite men making up a larger share of the workforce in all five career tracks. These tracks include consular affairs, economic affairs, political affairs, public diplomacy, and management.
The Heritage Foundation’s report paints a concerning picture. Across all foreign service career paths, men were consistently less likely to receive promotions than women. This trend persisted even though men outnumbered women in every track. The disparity, according to the study, appears to reflect a broader shift within the department’s promotion process under the Biden administration’s push for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and co-author of the report, criticized the findings as evidence of a skewed promotion system.
“This report exposes the administration’s pattern—under the guise of ‘equity’—of promoting women at higher rates than men, with no logical explanation other than preference based on sex alone,” Hankinson stated. He urged the State Department to take immediate action to restore a merit-based promotion system.
The promotional challenges faced by men at the State Department aren’t new. The Heritage Foundation’s findings align with previous data suggesting a long-standing trend of women rising more quickly through the ranks. A 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that between 2003 and 2018, women spent less time at each rank compared to men before receiving promotions.
Additionally, from 2020 to 2022, during the Biden-Harris administration, similar disparities in promotion rates were observed. This has raised questions about whether DEI initiatives have unintentionally created an uneven playing field.
Since President Biden took office in 2021, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a cornerstone of his administration’s agenda. Federal agencies, including the State Department, were required to develop and implement strategies aimed at fostering a more diverse workforce. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reinforced this commitment by appointing the department’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
These efforts included measures to ensure more women and minorities were given leadership opportunities. However, critics argue that these policies may have gone too far, prioritizing demographic characteristics over merit in the promotion process.
The Heritage Foundation report specifically criticizes the DEI framework for fostering a system where gender—rather than qualifications or experience—becomes a key factor in determining promotions.
The findings have sparked a broader political debate. Conservative lawmakers and commentators argue that the Biden administration’s DEI initiatives have undermined fairness and meritocracy within federal agencies. They see the Heritage Foundation’s study as further proof that DEI policies prioritize optics over results.
The incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump has already indicated its intention to dismantle many DEI programs implemented during Biden’s term. Trump has promised a return to what he describes as a “merit-based” system of governance.
“We will end these harmful DEI policies that divide and discriminate,” Trump said during a recent rally. His administration plans to conduct a full review of promotion practices across federal agencies, including the State Department, to ensure that they adhere to principles of merit and fairness.
As the State Department prepares for a new administration, questions remain about the future of its DEI policies. Critics like Hankinson argue that dismantling current practices is essential to restoring trust and fairness within the department.
However, proponents of DEI caution that eliminating these initiatives could result in a return to systemic imbalances that historically marginalized women and minorities. They argue that the State Department’s efforts have made strides toward leveling the playing field, even if the results require further refinement.
The debate over DEI’s role in promotions is likely to continue well into the next administration. For now, the Heritage Foundation’s findings have reignited discussions about the balance between diversity goals and meritocracy, a topic that will shape federal employment policies for years to come.
The State Department’s promotion practices are now under intense scrutiny, as evidence mounts of gender-based disparities favoring women. While DEI initiatives aim to address historical inequalities, critics argue they may have created new ones. With the Trump administration poised to overhaul these policies, the department faces significant changes ahead. Whether these changes will result in a more equitable system or a rollback of progress remains to be seen.