US State Department questions promotion candidates about Trump voting history: Report
- Senior officials reportedly indicate support for Trump could determine eligibility for mid-level, senior Foreign Service positions
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- Senior officials reportedly indicate support for Trump could determine eligibility for mid-level, senior Foreign Service positions
By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - The US State Department has reportedly asked career diplomats seeking promotions whether they voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections, The Washington Sun reported Thursday.
Senior agency officials indicated that support for Trump could determine eligibility for mid-level and senior Foreign Service positions, according to the report.
Candidates were also reportedly warned that their campaign donation records would be reviewed and contributions to Democratic candidates could cause them to be disqualified.
The report cited six current and former State Department officials, three of whom said they had spoken directly with individuals who faced the questions.
The reported practice has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats, who have raised concerns about political loyalty becoming a factor in federal employment decisions.
“The Committee has been following allegations that the Trump Administration is making political affiliation a factor in employment for some time now,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the newspaper.
“These are critical national security positions and individuals should be chosen for their experience and ability, not their political loyalty,” she said, adding that lawmakers were working with other committees to investigate the allegations.
US federal law prohibits government officials from making personnel decisions based on political affiliation.
The State Department declined to comment directly on the reported questions but defended its staffing and promotion approach.
“Fidelity means upholding the Constitution and the law and executing policy with loyalty to the American people and their interests,” a spokesperson told the newspaper.
The spokesperson said the principle was not about “partisan behavior” but about implementing the president’s foreign policy agenda.
The spokesperson added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has prioritized merit and “demonstrated performance on behalf of administration priorities” when promoting career employees into leadership roles.
Berk Kutay Gökmen