The State Department implemented a policy to condition eligibility for promotions on an employee’s ability to pass a loyalty test in diversity, equity and inclusion in order to be considered for promotions and higher pay following President Biden’s executive order.
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, President Obama’s former Malta ambassador, was appointed as chief diversity and inclusion officer in April 2021 for the State Department. She was in the position until June 2023.
According to Abercrombie-Winstanley, State created a policy under Biden that conditions promotions on whether employees are able to demonstrate through documentation that they are actively involved in DEI practices.
“We made the change that if you wanted to be considered for promotion at the Department of State, you must be able to document what you are doing to support diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility. This is how you are judged for promotion,” she said at a City Club Forum event in April 2023. “So that means my allies who are not female or minority are also interested in being able to show ‘I’m doing good work on this.'”