‘Fidelity’ to Current Policies Now Part of Foreign Service Evaluations

The State Department has added to its criteria for tenure and promotion decisions of Foreign Service officers an assessment of their “fidelity” to, among other things, “protecting and promoting executive power,” “zealously executing USG [United States Government] policy” and “quickly and completely aligning oneself and one’s team to the most current USG goals.”

That section was added in the most recent three-year update of the “core precepts”—guidelines by which tenure and selection boards determine the tenure and promotability of Foreign Service employees.

Under the new version, to be used in evaluations for the 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027 and 2028 cycles:

• The standard for protecting and promoting executive power relates to those from entry level onward, as does a standard for “productive relationships with peers, subordinates, managers, and “the public to achieve USG goals.”
• Evaluations for mid-level and above now include the standard for “zealously” executing policy along with “fulfilling the roles and authorities of the Department of State.”
• Considerations for those seeking promotion into and within the Senior Foreign Service, and consideration for SFS performance pay now include “resolving uncertainty on the side of fidelity to one’s chain of command” and “conforming oneself and one’s team to principals’ performance and strategy goals,” along with alignment with current goals.

The new version further emphasizes that “Foreign Service performance evaluations should cite practical examples to demonstrate the accomplishments and impact at each employee’s current level” along with evaluations of potential to perform at a higher level.

That follows a recent set of changes to performance ratings policies for other federal employees, including a requirement that they be assessed on their compliance with “an organizational goal or Trump Administration priority.”

The American Foreign Service Association said it “strongly objects” to the new criteria, saying the department “is eroding the very foundation of an apolitical Foreign Service that serves the American people—not any single administration.”

“This new standard insults the professionalism and integrity of the Foreign Service, undermining decades of merit-based evaluations. Its vague wording suggests that officers will now be judged on their willingness to bend to political winds rather than on their skills, expertise and steadfast dedication to non-partisan service,” it said in social media postings.

Along with adding the “fidelity” standard, the latest version drops a prior standard related to commitment to DEI—added by the Biden administration in the 2022 update—and revises one related to “technical expertise” as one of “knowledge.” Continuing standards relate to communication, leadership and management.

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