On February 12, 2025, a new executive order was issued focusing on State Department personnel. This executive order directs the initiation of changes to policies governing the Foreign Service and State Department civil service staff and other aspects of State Department operations.
While light on details of specific reforms, the executive order directs the Secretary of State to begin revisions (including amendments to State Department regulations in the Foreign Affairs Manual) to ensure presidential control over foreign policy. Presidential supervision was asserted over the Secretary of State’s authority concerning discipline of staff appointed by the Secretary and State Department officers. As indicated by the title of the executive order (“One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations”), part of the purpose of the executive order is to ensure uniformity in foreign policy communications and to require consistency with presidential foreign policy directives; the associated fact sheet for the executive order further referenced a goal of “a unified diplomatic voice, with related personnel held accountable to the President’s vision.” The executive order also stated that “Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation.”
Any employee facing uncertainty on following directions which they believe may violate federal laws or regulations, or who wish to seek guidance concerning lawfully reporting such possible violations through permissible channels to Congress, the Office of Special Counsel, the Office of Inspector General or other duly authorized whistleblower disclosure recipients, should consider consulting counsel, as should any employee facing potential discipline for alleged violation of this executive order.
The Secretary is directed further to “implement reforms in recruiting, performance, evaluation, and retention standards, and the programs of the Foreign Service Institute, to ensure a workforce that is committed to faithful implementation of the President’s foreign policy.” As of the publication of this blog, no specific revisions to the Foreign Affairs Manual have yet been issued, but are likely to be forthcoming in the near future.
If you are a State Department employee (including civil service, Foreign Service Officers and Foreign Service Nationals) and wish to learn more about your legal rights, consider contacting Gilbert Employment Law to request an initial consultation.