The U.S. State Department announced on April 1, 2026, a major overhaul of the Foreign Service Officer Test and onboarding program to align with the current administration’s “America First” foreign policy priorities. The revisions remove questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and introduce new training emphasizing diplomatic history and national interest advocacy.
Changes to the Foreign Service Officer Test and Selection Process
The updated Foreign Service Officer Test now emphasizes merit-based selection by eliminating questions designed to assess candidates’ alignment with DEI initiatives. According to Tommy Pigott, the department’s deputy spokesperson, the changes aim to prepare diplomats to represent American interests effectively in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The longstanding Qualification Evaluation Panel, which conducted comprehensive reviews of candidates’ files, is being replaced by a written examination. The department stated that critical thinking and strong writing skills remain essential for Foreign Service Officers.
New Onboarding Curriculum Focuses on Diplomatic History and “America First” Policy
The State Department is revising its A-100 onboarding program for incoming officers to incorporate lectures on “diplomatic history and America First foreign policy,” drawing on speeches and writings from early U.S. presidents such as George Washington, John Quincy Adams, and James Monroe. The curriculum also includes classical diplomatic works from the Federalist Papers, Cold War diplomat George Kennan, political scientist Samuel Huntington, and “America First” strategist Angelo Codevilla.
Traditional resilience activities, such as a blindfolded object-throwing exercise, will be replaced by more substantive content focused on international relations topics like economic strategy, commercial diplomacy, grand strategy, public speaking, negotiation, and leadership skills.
Context of Policy and Administrative Shifts
This overhaul follows executive orders by the Trump administration removing DEI programs from federal agencies, including the State Department. In 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was directed to maintain “an exceptional workforce of patriots” to advance the administration’s foreign policy goals.
The department previously announced plans to phase out DEI-related evaluation components last fall, including the removal of personal narrative essays and the situational judgement section from the Foreign Service Officer Test.
Why it matters
This restructuring marks a significant shift in how U.S. diplomats are selected and trained, reflecting changes in the administration’s global strategy and ideological priorities. By focusing on traditional diplomatic skill sets and “America First” policy perspectives, the department aims to redefine the diplomatic corps’ role and representation abroad.
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