State Department Asked Employees Up for Promotion Whether They Voted for Trump

The State Department reportedly asked some Foreign Service officers seeking promotion how they voted in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. Six current and former officials described the questioning; sources said senior officials made support for Donald Trump a condition of eligibility for mid-to-upper-level roles and warned that donations to Democrats would disqualify candidates. Such political screening would conflict with federal law barring personnel decisions based on political affiliation. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats say they are preparing an investigation, arguing diplomatic leaders should be chosen for ability and experience rather than loyalty to a party.

The department initially declined to address the voting questions, saying it values “fidelity” to the Constitution, the law and administration policy, and that promotions should reward performance and merit. After the report appeared, it denied that employees were asked about political affiliations. The account places the allegations amid broader changes to the diplomatic corps: a new performance-evaluation measure emphasizing alignment with government goals, a redesigned entry exam that one test-taker said appeared politically slanted, workforce reductions, and the sidelining or departure of senior diplomats. The administration has also faced legal challenges over political questions in federal hiring and proposed changes that could make some civil servants easier to dismiss. A public-service advocacy leader said the alleged screening threatens legal protections against a return to patronage-based government.