State Department Overhauls Foreign Service Selection Process

The State Department announced Wednesday significant changes to the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Test and the onboarding program for new officers. These modifications are intended to reflect the administration’s foreign policy objectives and prepare diplomats for a changing global landscape.

Changes to the Foreign Service Officer Test

The revised FSO Test will place greater emphasis on “merit” in the selection process. According to the Department, questions designed to assess alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas have been eliminated. Tommy Pigott, the Department’s deputy spokesperson, stated, “The Trump administration is modernizing the Foreign Service to prepare America’s diplomats to advocate for our national interest on a dynamically changing world stage.”

New Evaluation Methods

The traditional Qualification Evaluation Panel, a weeks-long review process, is being replaced by a written examination. The Department argues that critical thinking and clear writing skills remain essential for Foreign Service Officers. The Department encourages patriotic Americans to apply to join the Foreign Service.

Revised Onboarding Program: A-100

The onboarding program, known as A-100, will be modified to include lectures on diplomatic history and “America First” foreign policy. These lectures will feature writings and speeches from historical figures including George Washington, John Quincy Adams, and James Monroe.

Key Texts and Thinkers

The curriculum will also incorporate selections from the Federalist Papers, works by Cold War diplomat George Kennan, “Clash of Civilizations” author Samuel Huntington, and Angelo Codevilla, a key architect of the “America First” philosophy. Foreign Service Officers will receive substantive content on policy and tradecraft.

Shift Away from Resilience Exercises

The new format will replace previous resilience exercises, such as a 90-minute activity requiring participants to throw objects into a bucket while blindfolded. A-100 will now include lectures on international relations, economic strategy, commercial diplomacy, and grand strategy, alongside training in public speaking, negotiation, and leadership.

Background and Context

These changes follow a series of executive orders issued last year that eliminated DEI initiatives. A 2025 directive tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio with building “an exceptional workforce of patriots” to effectively implement the administration’s foreign policy goals. The Department announced plans to revamp the exam and phase out DEI questionnaires last fall, subsequently removing essay requirements and the situational judgement section.

Previous Administration's DEI Focus

In contrast, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during the Biden administration, supported DEI programs within the State Department and appointed a chief DEI officer. Blinken stated in 2021, “The State Department has the honor of representing the American people to the world…To do that well, we must recruit and retain a workforce that truly reflects America. Diversity and inclusion make us stronger, smarter, more creative, and more innovative.”