Investigate and Stop Illegal Political Litmus Tests at the State Department

Investigate and stop the State Department's illegal use of political litmus tests in foreign service promotions. According to reporting by The Washington Sun, State Department officials have been asking civil servants up for promotion who they voted for in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections. Donating to any Democrat is reportedly disqualifying. This is not a gray area. Federal law explicitly prohibits personnel decisions based on political affiliation. Six current and former State Department officials confirmed these practices to the Sun. The department has also added a "fidelity" section to its performance evaluations, requiring employees to demonstrate "complete alignment" with current administration goals. A spokesperson declined to deny the voting history questions and instead defended the concept of "fidelity." That is not a denial. That is a confirmation dressed up in bureaucratic language. A professional diplomatic corps depends on expertise, not personal loyalty to one politician. Purging career foreign service officers for how they voted a decade ago weakens American diplomacy and sets a precedent that should alarm every American regardless of party. This demands a congressional response.