1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov July 2, 2020Diversity in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service: Background and Issues for CongressMembers of Congress, U.S. Department of State (DOS) officials, and other stakeholders have maintained a longstanding interest in ensuring that the U.S. Department
2、of State Foreign Service workforce (hereafter, the Foreign Service) is representative of the American people, as called for in the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-465, hereafter, the Foreign Service Act). Beyond adherence to statutory requirements, some DOS officials and other observers have as
3、serted that a diverse Foreign Service workforce adds more perspectives to the development of U.S. foreign policy and contributes to better policymaking. While many observers note that the State Department has made substantial gains in bringing about a more diverse Foreign Service workforce, high-ran
4、king DOS officials have said that more work is needed to build on existing progress, including with respect to fostering greater diversity in senior positions. Background The Foreign Service has faced criticism for not being representative of the American people and has often been characterized as a