GAO State Department Report Notes That Diversity Challenges Still Exist

PRESS RELEASE - WASHINGTON, DC (February 25, 2020)

The GAO report on diversity at the U.S. Department of State, released February 25th, is sobering but not surprising. The GAO reported that between fiscal years 2002 and 2018, the proportion of racial or ethnic minorities working full-time at the Department increased, but only by 4 percent. This is still below the overall average of the federal workforce. There are generally lower promotion rates for racial or ethnic minorities than for whites, and the proportion of racial or ethnic minorities and women was lowest at management and executive levels. Overall, numbers for minorities are very low. The GAO found that the proportion of African Americans working at the Department decreased from 17 percent to 15 percent in the same period of time.

The GAO report reflects a problem that has existed at the U.S. Department of State for some time, which is a culture that is resistant to change. Despite the number of programs, including fellowships and internships, that exist to bring in diverse voices, the ability to keep these diverse perspectives in the Department continues to fail. Bringing in numbers of diverse individuals is not enough to shake up the system when the system itself remains the same. While there are many aspects to the challenges of increasing diversity, there needs to be a top/down serious and sustained effort, not just for diversity, but for inclusion.

This is not an impossible challenge. What is needed is real commitment reflected in action at all levels in the Department that works to make everyone feel a part of the team and roles are valued. There needs to be a better strategy that promotes an improved culture of inclusion that has so far been absent. Unless the gatekeepers of the current culture make a change, change won’t happen.