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.
I’ve made this comment before and now it’s possible that the Communist Democrats are going to try and make it happen.
The mainstream media has been abuzz with a new suggestion from a former aide to Vice President Kamala Harris. According to Jamal Simmons, Harris and President Joe Biden could “dominate” press coverage if Biden were to resign from office. This would supposedly “disrupt” Trump’s transition and give Harris a chance to become the 47th president of the United States. But let’s take a closer look at this outlandish proposal.
Biden has already proven himself to be a “phenomenal president,” as Simmons claims, by fulfilling many of his campaign promises. There is no need for him to step down and let Harris take over. This suggestion serves no purpose other than to stir up unnecessary drama and divert attention away from the real issues facing our country.
The former communications director for Harris has gone from pushing a mere internet meme to appearing on a Sunday morning show to promote this absurd idea. It seems as though the media will grasp onto anything, no matter how outlandish, in an attempt to discredit the Trump administration. But the American people are smarter than that.
Even Republican strategist Scott Jennings couldn’t help but poke fun at the suggestion, comparing it to a plotline from the popular Netflix series “House of Cards.” This proposal is nothing more than a desperate attempt to create a new narrative and shift the focus away from the successes of the Trump administration.
Biden has already made it clear that he will not be seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2024. And while he did endorse Harris for the role, there is no need for her to take over before her time. This suggestion is not only unnecessary but also disrespectful to the American people who voted for Biden and expect him to fulfill his term as president.
Simmons claims that if Biden were to resign, it would absolve Harris from overseeing the transition of her own defeat. But let’s be real, Trump secured the 270 electoral votes necessary for victory fair and square. There is no defeat to oversee, and it’s time for Democrats to accept that.
This suggestion from Simmons is nothing more than a ploy to disrupt and undermine the Trump administration. It’s petty. But the American people are not fooled. They see through the media’s attempts to discredit Trump and continue to support his presidency.
The current State Department became a mechanism of evil causes when Biden and Harris were installed into those top executive positions all of which was a hidden or “Camouflaged Coup d’ etat” to consolidate their power and to allow one of the former evil cohorts the former total fraud Obama to “lead from behind” and “fundamentally transform the United States of America.” This agenda in unison with the Deep State and MIC would bring on a “totalitarian government” with complete control over the Citizens, no more Free Speech or 2nd Amendment, right to privacy gone and even changing your grade school children’s gender without your parental consent, a done deal, like now in Califonication under the ever so evil and insane Newsom!
The “many elitists and operatives” behind all of this evil don’t plan to disappear any time soon without first trying whatever they can to “destroy anything or anyone that they see as an obstacle to their agenda!”
But they are all total “Crazy” and many are “EVIL” on the Left and throughout the Demoncrap Party; many of which “sold their souls to the Devil” and are already hopelessly forever lost in the madness and mire they helped the Devil to create. The big difference now over what happened in 2020 is that we (most of the public) clearly see that a majority of the “Citizens” have seen the truth and won’t accept their lies anymore, so what these fools do now is “futile and stupid!” Let us recall how just after the 2020 scammed election how the Demoncrap Party began all kinds of investigations accusing Trump of trying to flip the election results when he asked for officials to look for any errors and possible additional votes, “a normal review of the tabulations;” but what these stupid A-holes are doing is outright “Criminal Conspiracy and Treasonous Manipulation” of the facts!
Proverbs 26:26-28 “Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.”
dei is dieing the country!!! That is how we got the dumb vice president!! STOP IT!!!
Yes kick it to the curb like the CRAP that it is!
The same people, who vetted ca-MAL-ah Harris, vetted Tim Walz. How did that work out ?
Trump should announce that any appointments made by the Biden administration during his transition will be asked to resign or be fired on 1/20/24.
Len that is excellent and absolutely!
DEI equals racism and sexism. It must be stomped out if we are to have a functional society. The right way to bring underrepresented groups to leadership positions is to mentor them to the point where their demonstrated merit deserves a promotion, not to pass over better qualified people.
Robert; Absolutely correct and very well put!
This Bull Crap has to END! All this does is makes for a weaker and very dysfunctional and dangerous society! It was always promote the cream of the crop to more responsibility not the weakest and stupidest so everyone becomes equally stupid and SCREWED!
LEFTIST EVIL INSANITY FROM HELL IS ALL THIS IS!