Conservative Group Seeks to Change Diversity Practices at State Department

The group has built influence inside the agency since President Trump returned to office in January 2025. The effort focuses on two main objectives. The first is to remove diversity-related programs and requirements that the group views as inconsistent with merit-based hiring and promotion.

The second is to identify and promote career diplomats whose past work aligns with the current administration’s foreign policy priorities.

The Ben Franklin Fellowship has developed contacts among political appointees and some career staff. These connections have allowed the group to provide input on personnel decisions and policy emphasis inside the department. Officials have not commented publicly on the extent of the group’s access or on any planned changes to diversity policies.

The fellowship operates as a private organization outside formal government structures. Its founders have described their work as an effort to align diplomatic staffing more closely with the elected administration’s direction. The paper noted that similar efforts have appeared at other departments since January 2025.

Career diplomats continue to staff embassies and bureaus under existing civil service rules.