FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2026
Washington, D.C. — The Steady State, a nonpartisan organization of more than 450 former national security officials, today asked the State Department’s Acting Inspector General to investigate news reports that career diplomats being considered for promotion were asked who they voted for in the last three presidential elections.
According to the reports, officials made clear that only those who had voted for President Trump would be eligible, and that anyone who had donated to Democrats would be disqualified. The State Department has denied the reports.
Career diplomats are supposed to be hired and promoted based on their work, not their politics. Federal law bars personnel decisions based on political affiliation, and it is a federal crime to pressure government employees about how they vote or whom they support.
The Steady State asked the Office of the Inspector General to find out whether this happened and who was responsible, to make sure the relevant records are preserved, and to refer any evidence of a crime to the Justice Department.
Our diplomats serve the country, not a political party. Americans deserve to know whether that line was crossed.
The full letter is available at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/157sTSa1EbfhwAfQVL1kD99OQE8JC77x5/view?usp=share_link
About The Steady State
The Steady State is an organization of more than 450 former national security professionals committed to defending American democracy from rising authoritarian threats. Its members include former ambassadors and senior State Department officials, senior CIA, Defense officials, FBI and DHS leaders, USAID and NSC staff, and senior congressional staff from both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Media Contact: contact@thesteadystate.org | (212) 685-9660