Deficient, Enfeebled, and Ineffective: The Consequences of the Biden Administration’s Far-Left Priorities on U.S. Foreign Policy

1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                DEFICIENT, ENFEEBLED, AND INEFFECTIVE:5            THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BIDEN DMINISTRATION'S6             FAR-LEFT PRIORITIES ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY78=======================================================================910                                HEARING1112                                 OF THE1314               SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INTELLIGENCE1516                               BEFORE THE1718                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS19                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES2021                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2223                             FIRST SESSION2425                               __________2627                             April 8, 20252829                               __________3031                           Serial No. 119-123233                               __________3435        Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs3637                 [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3839Available: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http://docs.house.gov,40                       or http://www.govinfo.gov4142                               ______4344                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE454660-514 PDF                WASHINGTON : 20254748                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS4950                    BRIAN J. MAST, Florida, Chairman5152MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas              GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York,53 CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey        Ranking Member54 JOE WILSON, South Carolina           BRAD SHERMAN, California55 SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia56 DARRELL ISSA, California             WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts57 TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee              AMI BERA, California58 MARK E. GREEN, Tennessee             JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas59 ANDY BARRK, Kentucky                 DINA TITUS, Nevada60 RONNY JACKSON, Texas                 TED LIEU, California61 YOUNG KIM, California                SARA JACOBS, California62 MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, Florida        SHEILA CHERFILUS-McCORMICK,63 BILL HUIZENGA, Michigan                 Florida64 AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN,       GREG STANTON, Arizona65    American Samoa                    JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida66 WARREN DAVIDSON, Ohio                JONATHAN L. JACKSON, Illinois67 JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana              SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE, California68 THOMAS H. KEAN, Jr., New Jersey      JIM COSTA, California69 MICHAEL LAWLER, New York             GABE AMO, Rhode Island70 CORY MILLS, Florida                  KWEISI MFUME, Maryland71 RICHARD McCORMICK, Georgia           PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington72 KEITH SELF, Texas                    GEORGE LATIMER, New York73 RYAN K. ZINKE, Montana               JOHNNY OLSZEWSKI Jr., Maryland74 JAMES C. MOYLAN, Guam                JULIE JOHNSON, Texas75 ANNA PAULINA LUNA, Florida           SARAH McBRIDE, Delaware76 JEFFERSON SHREVE, Indiana            BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois77 SHERI BIGGS, South Carolina          MADELEINE DEAN, Pennsylvania78 MICHAEL BAUMGARTNER, Washington79 RYAN MACKENZIE, Pennsylvania8081              James Langenderfer, Majority Staff Director82                 Sajit Gandhi, Minority Staff Director8384                                 ------8586               SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INTELLIGENCE8788                     CORY MILLS, Florida, Chairman8990SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida, Ranking91DARRELL ISSA, California                 Member92RONNY JACKSON, Texas                 SARAH McBRIDE, Delaware93WARREN DAVIDSON, Ohio                BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois94JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana              MADELEINE DEAN, Pennsylvania95ANNA PAULINA LUNA, Florida9697             Christy Kortokrax, Subcommittee Staff Director9899                         C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S100101                              ----------102103                            REPRESENTATIVES104105                                                                   Page106Opening Statement of Chairman Cory Mills.........................     1107Opening Statement of Ranking Member Jared Moskowitz..............     2108109                               WITNESSES110111Statement of Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow, The112  Heritage Foundation............................................     4113  Prepared Statement.............................................     7114Statement of James Rogers, Senior Counsel, America First Legal...    15115  Prepared Statement.............................................    18116Statement of Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Former Chief117  Diversity and Inclusion Officer, U.S. Department of State......    26118  Prepared Statement.............................................    29119120                                APPENDIX121122Hearing Notice...................................................    48123Hearing Minutes..................................................    50124Hearing Attendance...............................................    51125126                        Materials for the Record127128McCaul, Meeks Applaud Passage of State Department Authorization129  Act, submitted by Rep. Dean....................................    52130Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isnt True,131  submitted by Rep. Dean.........................................    54132The Atlantic, Advisers Shared on Signal, submitted by Rep. Dean..    68133The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans,134  submitted by Rep. Dean.........................................    96135Public Law 117-81 DEC 27, 2021, submitted by Rep. Dean...........   116136137                DEFICIENT, ENFEEBLED, AND INEFFECTIVE:138            THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BIDEN DMINISTRATION'S139             FAR-LEFT PRIORITIES ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY140141                              ----------142143                         Tuesday, April 8, 2025144145                  House of Representatives,146                      Committee on Foreign Affairs,147                   Subcommittee on Oversight & Intelligence148                                                    Washington, DC.149150    The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2 p.m., in151room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Cory Mills152(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.153    Mr.Mills. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence154will come to order.155    Without objection, the chair may declare the subcommittee156in recess at any point.157    The purpose of this hearing is to identify divisive158diversity, equity, and inclusion policies implemented under the159Biden administration that the State Department must reform to160meet ``America first'' foreign policy objectives. I now161recognize myself for an opening statement.162163            OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN CORY MILLS164165    Good afternoon, and welcome to the first hearing of the166Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence in the 119th167Congress.168    As we start the new Congress, I'm looking forward to169working with the colleagues to deliver real results for the170American people by advancing President Trump's ``America171first'' policies and agenda.172    Over the next few months, through our State Department173reauthorization deliberations, this subcommittee will work to174identify areas of the secretary's office, or the S Bureau, that175must be reformed and reprogrammed to reorient the United States176as a leader on the world stage while ensuring that taxpayer177dollars are effectively used to bolster U.S. national security178efforts.179    For far too long the State Department prioritized radical180liberal political ideologies and woke policies over advancing181diplomatic objectives that serve American interests and protect182the American people from our adversaries.183    While the Biden administration was trying to figure out184what pronouns to use our adversaries grew stronger and more185emboldened.186    China aggressively enforced unlawful territorial claims in187the South China Sea and has undermined the United States and188our allies at every turn.189    Russia invaded Ukraine. North Korea ramped up its military190provocations. Iran advanced its nuclear weapons and ballistic191missile programs, empowering its proxies to now cause chaos192throughout the entire region of the Middle East.193    Israel was attacked and global shipping routes in the Red194Sea was blocked. Over the last 4 years, among others the195American people watched these foreign policy failures unfold196and voted for real change and action on November 5th.197    The American people gave President Trump and the198Republican-led Congress a mandate to reverse the damage and199restore common sense to our Federal Government.200    Today this subcommittee will take its first step to deliver201on this mandate by examining the State Department's Office of202Diversity and Inclusion.203    The Office of Diversity and Inclusion detrimentally204influenced operations across the State Department by making DEI205a core precept for promotion considerations within the ranks of206the Foreign Service, granting passport applicants the ability207to select X as a gender, and using taxpayer dollars to fund208numerous woke projects including commemorating Black209Consciousness Month with an event in which employees learned210about the inclusive Afro-Brazilian culture through music and211LGBTQI+ culture through vogue dance in Brazil. That was a212mouthful.213    These policies corrupted the core mission of the State214Department and we must restore unity and fundamental American215principles to the department, eliminate wasteful spending, and216ensure that President Trump's executive orders are fully217implemented, not subverted by rebranding DEI-driven programs.218    It is our duty to ensure that Americans become safer,219stronger, and more prosperous.220    I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the221subcommittee today and I look forward to productive discussions222on how we can enhance America's security through common sense223policies and responsible leaderships.224    The chair will now recognize my good friend and Ranking225Member, the gentleman from Florida Representative Moskowitz,226for any statements he may have.227    Mr. Moskowitz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.228229      OPENING STATEMENT OF RANKING MEMBER JARED MOSKOWITZ230231    Good afternoon, and thank you to the witnesses for232testifying at today's hearing, the first Oversight and233Intelligence Subcommittee hearing for the 119th Congress, first234hearing as ranking member and it is also nice to be here with235my friend and colleague Chairman Mills from Florida. Florida236had a good day yesterday with the Gators' win.237    I would like to spend a few minutes focusing on the title238of this hearing ``Deficient, Enfeebled and Ineffective.''239    If I didn't know any better I thought we would be talking240about Trump's tariffs that were just put in place. In fact, if241you listen to Elon Musk talking about the architect of the242Trump tariff, the mastermind Peter Navarro, Elon calls him a243moron.244    He calls him dumber than a sack of bricks. And then Elon245apologizes to the sack of bricks because he thought he offended246the sack of bricks by comparing them to Peter Navarro.247    You know, I was looking forward to a meaningful discussion248of our current foreign policy discussion but the trend249continues in this Congress. We don't want to do any oversight250of the current administration or examination discussion even251though that is kind of the point of this subcommittee.252    But instead we're focused on looking backward--Biden era253policies. So we're going to talk about DEI. News flash to my254colleagues across the aisle, you won, we lost. This was one of255the issues on the ballot. There's an EO has been signed. DEI256has ended. But, yet, we're still going to look backward.257    Oddly enough, there were some of programs and objectives258that you rolled back that you also had in place during the259first Trump administration that promoted diversity and260inclusion.261    You know, there's this movie ``Spaceballs.'' I'm a big fan262of this movie ``Spaceballs.'' There's a scene when Colonel263Sanders and Dark Helmet are talking, and Colonel Sanders says264to Dark Helmet--he says, ``You're looking at now, sir.265Everything that is happening now is happening now,'' and Dark266Helmet says, ``What happened to then?''267    ``We passed it.''268    ``When?''269    ``Just now. We're at now now.''270    This is the present, Okay, and not a single one of my271colleagues want to talk about now. They want to talk about272then. They want to talk about the past.273    Okay. What I want to know is when will then be now. Soon274perhaps?275    Our witness today, Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley,276has experience on the ground in some of the most sensitive277regions of national interest and extensive involvement in our278national security apparatus.279    I want to welcome her and the other witnesses here today.280The Ambassador, after her term to Malta, served as the chief281diversity inclusion officer at the State Department and I'm282sure she'll be able to provide more detailed insight into the283programs that the Trump administration has begun dismantling.284    You know, one of the things I want to talk about and end285with here in my opener, Mr. Chairman, is that it is a286bipartisan objective, Democrats and Republicans, to talk about287what's happening with China.288    We had a China Select Committee that was very bipartisan.289But my colleagues seem to be undermining that effort because of290what the freezing that has gone on with foreign aid.291    Anyone who--any member who has traveled around the world292and met with world leaders, met with Ambassadors, knows every293time the United States removes a dollar from foreign aid, every294time we withdraw and create a vacuum, China is coming in and295has developed--and making more friends. The United States296having more leverage, having more influence.297    We want to fight Belt and Road. Well, we can't withdraw. We298can't isolate. And what's been going on within the State299Department, what's been going on within the administration, is300absolutely against what we're trying to accomplish on China.301    These tariffs that the President is putting in place on302China--the other piece to that is to isolate China from the303rest of the world at the same time. But we're not. We're304fueling other countries to turn to China, to run to China as we305withdraw our foreign aid.306    ``America first'' can't be America alone and that's where307we're headed with the current policies of the administration.308    With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.309    Mr. Mills. Thank you, Ranking Member.310    Like yourself I was also a bit confused. Whenever we talk311about deficient, enfeebled, and effective I thought we were312talking about Biden's entire administration over the last 4313years.314    But I'll also remind our ranking member that in order to315understand the mistakes that was made in the past we have to316resurface and rehash these issues so that we can prevent them317from occurring in the future, not just continue to make the318same mistakes over and over because we didn't learn from them.319    Other members of the committee are reminded that opening320statements may be submitted for the record.321    We are pleased to have our distinguished panel of witnesses322before us today on this very important topic.323    Mr. Simon Hankinson--I apologize if I mess up anyone's324name--is a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.325Mr. Hankinson has served as a Foreign Service Officer in the326State Department for over 20 years, and thank you for your327service.328    Mr. James Rogers serves as a senior counsel for the America329First Legal. Prior to joining America First Legal, Mr. Rogers330was senior litigation counsel at the Solicitor General's Office331of the Arizona Attorney General's office.332    Mr. Rogers also served as a Foreign Service Officer in the333State Department for 6 years. Thank you so much for being here.334    Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley served as the chief335diversity and inclusion officer for the Department of State336under the Biden administration.337    This chair--this committee recognizes the importance of the338issues before us and is grateful to have you here to speak with339us today.340    Your full statements will be made part of the record and341I'll ask each of you to keep your spoken remarks to 5 minutes342in order to allow members time for the questions.343    I now recognize Mr. Hankinson for his opening statement.344345                  STATEMENT OF SIMON HANKINSON346347    Mr. Hankinson. Thank you, Chairman Mills, Ranking Member348Moskowitz, members of the committee. The views I express in349this testimony are my own.350    My only prayer for the future of diversity and inclusion is351that we invest in and nurture talent no matter what they look352like. That was actually ``Snow White'' actress Rachel Zegler--353and it's one thing I agree with her on--diversity is great when354it comes from fair competition and individual choice.355    Equity should mean equal opportunity and equal treatment.356Inclusion is good when it's possible but in life, variables357beyond the control of organizations result in disparate358outcomes.359    Critical Race Theory says disparate outcomes are caused by360unseen forces like structural bias or systemic racism, and for361proponents of this theory equity means ensuring equal outcomes.362So they rig the system to achieve it under labels like DEI.363    But professions and skilled trades need standards. When I364go to the doctor I want one who got A's in biology. I want them365to have aced the MCAT and gone to a rigorous medical school.366    When I get on a plane I want pilots who are selected367because they're good at math, spatial reasoning, and keeping368calm in a crisis.369    When I call 911 I want them to send a police officer who370knows the law and can catch a criminal, or a fireman who can371lift an average person.372    There are two ways to get diversity in selective373professions. You can educate everyone to a high standard and374let them compete or you can discriminate to get the sex and375race percentages you want, and in trying to make the U.S.376Foreign Service look like America the State Department chose377discrimination.378    If you want the analysis, the data, the charts, I've379written several long reports which are available online. But380there's no systemic evidence of bias at the State Department381against favored minorities.382    The sad truth is that the American education system is383failing to deliver a pipeline of potential recruits that is as384racially diverse as our country. Only 30 percent of eighth385grade students in the U.S. are proficient readers.386    In 2023 not a single child tested proficient in math across38767 schools in the State of Illinois. In 2020 the Smithsonian388Museum wanted us to believe that hard work is the key to389success and work before you play were aspects of white culture.390    That would have surprised my friend Taitusi(?) in Fiji, a391successful builder, and it would have been news to my friend392Kojo in Togo who gets up at dawn every day to run his coffee393farm.394    I've lived 10 years in Africa, four in Asia, and 20 in395Europe. The values that make people succeed are the same the396world over. The reason our schools fail is because we let them.397    Economist Roland Fryer's research on charter schools showed398that success is not about teacher pay or iPads or class sizes.399It's teacher feedback, data to guide instruction, tutoring,400increased instructional time, and high expectations.401    So with strong families, homework, discipline, no phones in402the class, and high expectations we could fix our schools. That403would increase the talent pool. That would allow diversity to404occur naturally in competitive fields.405    But instead, the State Department, like so many other406institutions, has decided to achieve its diversity goals by407lowering standards. Meanwhile, in our foreign policy, rather408than following its own joint strategic plan and concentrating409on the values at the heart of the American way of life, the410department has pursued a leftist agenda.411    The Biden State Department's equity action plan contained412the word equity 113 times but equality appeared only seven413times.414    Under former Secretary Blinken, the State Department415offered grants to promote transgenderism in India, drag416performances in Ecuador, LGBTQIA+ plus awareness in Botswana, a417gender and sexuality library in Lebanon, and DEI training for418police in Latin America.419    Blinken's USAID promoted gender-affirming medical care,420although other developed countries have banned it for minors.421They conflated conversion therapy with any effort to help young422people accept reality, and at the United Nations U.S. diplomats423fought to replace sex with sexual orientation and gender424identity and women with women in all their diversity, which is425code for allowing men to self-identify into women's spaces and426compete against women in sports.427    Woke ideology is dug in. Consultants are making millions428writing and advising about it. Institutions will resist or429rebrand. At NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab they kept their DEI chief430but renamed her from chief inclusion officer to chief of the431office of team excellence and employee success.432    At California Institute of Technology they promoted their433assistant vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and434assessment to associate vice president for campus climate435engagement and success. New titles, same old jobs.436    Discrimination is discrimination. Whether you call it437affirmative action or DEIA or belonging or engagement or438success or excellence, hiring people because of how they look439and not what they do is wrong and it's also illegal.440    The State Department's guiding principles at home must be441equal opportunity, fair treatment, high expectations, and442accountability, and in foreign policy the focus must be on443enduring American values.444    Thank you for inviting me today and I'm happy to answer any445questions.446    [The prepared statement of Mr. Hankinson follows:]447448[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]449450    Mr. Mills. Thank you so much, Mr. Hankinson.451    At this point in time we'd like to recognize Mr. Rogers for452his opening statement.453454                   STATEMENT OF JAMES ROGERS455456    Mr. Rogers. Chairman Mills, Ranking Member Moskowitz, and457members of the subcommittee, thank you for the invitation to458testify.459    I'll be summarizing my written testimony, first, to460acknowledge the positive. My testimony is about the Department461of State's failures under prior secretaries.462    Things have already markedly improved Under Secretary Rubio463and I'm confident the problems I outlined can and will be464addressed under his leadership.465    I served as a State Department Foreign Service officer for4666 years. My experience during President Trump's first term467shows that the department has an entrenched culture focused on468opposing him and punishing anyone who exposes this.469    Shortly before my consular tour in Brazil in 2017 President470Trump rescinded Obama-era requirements focused on fast visa471interview speeds. Instead, he ordered the department to focus472on thoroughly vetting visa applicants.473    However, the minister counselor for Consular Affairs for474Brazil Doug Koneff ignored these orders and imposed an even475more aggressive standard than what President Trump had476required--had rescinded.477    My direct supervisors, Consular Chief David Franz and478Deputy Chief Kelly Kopcial, also directly disobeyed department479directives about slowing down the interview process to give480officers enough time to vet applicants.481    I blew the whistle about this. The department investigated482and confirmed I was right. Soon after, apparently in483retaliation, Franz filled my employee evaluation with false484negative statements that led the department to deny me job485tenure and schedule me for separation.486    While preparing a grievance against this I discovered the487same problems were happening worldwide and that more thorough488visa interviewing would likely decrease visa overstay rates by48950 to 75 percent.490    This means that out of the 1.8 million visa overstays491during President Trump's first term malfeasance likely caused492900,000 to 1.4 million of them.493    To put that in perspective, 10 U.S. states have populations494of less than 1.4 million. Thus, consular managers subverting495President Trump's policies managed to add an entire State496population's worth of illegal aliens in just 4 years.497    The Department's Office of the Inspector General ignored my498complaint about this. The Office of Special Counsel also499rejected my complaint, incorrectly claiming that it was500secondhand information.501    Yet, at the same time, the intelligence community's IG was502investigating secondhand allegation from Alexander Vindman that503formed the sole basis for the impeachment of President Trump.504    I also submitted a complaint to the OSC for whistleblower505retaliation. But 7 months later, when my grievance was nearing506resolution, the attorney assigned to investigate my case had507never even started investigating.508    Eventually, I won my grievance but the Department made the509process as painful and drawn out as possible and hobbled my510career in ways I will never recover from. It became clear I had511no future there so I left.512    This experience shows that, first, department employees513believe they can disobey the President's lawful orders and they514often get away with it.515    Second, the mechanisms designed to stop wrongdoing and516protect whistleblowers do not work. In my current role as517senior counsel at America First Legal we've discovered more518problems.519    The department started assigning diversity, equity,520inclusion, and accessibility scores to employees in 2022 and521using them to make tenure and promotion decisions.522    Anecdotal evidence suggests these scores were used not just523as an Orwellian way of enforcing ideological conformity but524also as a pretext for discriminating against white males.525    One department employee was reprimanded by a supervisor and526penalized in his DEI score because he declined to volunteer his527free time to help at an LGBT Pride festival outside of work528hours.529    But the DEI hysteria did not stop there. When he applied530for onboard assignments he was almost always required to531describe his efforts to promote DEIA. Only the two posts that532did not see this information accepted his application for an533onboard assignment.534    Thankfully, the new administration has eliminated these535DEIA scores. However, the bureaucracy continues to discriminate536against employees in other ways.537    For example, a diplomatic security special agent has been538at the target of a nearly 5-year-long witch hunt because he539posted traditional Christian symbols and prayers to his540personal social media.541    Department officials reacted to these innocuous posts with542baseless allegations that he was a white nationalist and a543right-wing Christian associated with violent extremism. This544agent has been selected for promotion three times over the last5455 years but the department refuses to promote him because of546the pending investigation.547    This sort of pretextual attack driven by ideological548extremists within the department must stop. Those involved in549this weaponization of government must be held accountable.550    These specific cases are emblematic of a more widespread551problem in the department's culture that festered during the552Biden years.553    Through Freedom of Information Act requests, AFL has554uncovered diplomatic cables that detailed the extreme555ideological bias in Blinken-era department programs that sought556to indoctrinate--sought to indoctrinate citizens of other557countries into supporting divisive left-wing causes.558    These Biden-era DEI programs spread unwanted divisive559leftist ideology to foreigners, driving resentment against our560country, making it harder to achieve legitimate foreign policy561goals that actually would improve Americans' lives.562    President Trump's order removing DEIA from the government563is already having a positive effect. However, the department564should also retroactively reevaluate everyone denied promotions565from 2022 to 2025 without using DEIA scores and then give566promotions with back pay to those found worthy.567    More generally, because there appears to be a persistent568pattern of bias in tenure and promotion decisions, employee569evaluation should exclude anything that might allow a reader to570infer an employee's race, sex, religion, or other protected571characteristics.572    Additionally, to better protect whistleblowers there must573be reforms to the department's grievance system and how IGs and574OSC handle complaints, which I detailed in my written575testimony.576    Thank you, and I welcome any questions from the577subcommittee.578    [The prepared statement of Mr. Rogers follows:]579580[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]581582    Mr. Mills. Thank you, Mr. Rogers.583    I now recognize Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley for her584opening statement.585586            STATEMENT OF GINA ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY587588    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr.589Ranking Member, members of the subcommittee.590    I want to thank you for the opportunity to join you here591today to address some of the misconceptions around diversity,592equity, inclusion, and accessibility as characterized in the593title of this hearing.594    I come from a family of proud public servants. I have three595siblings--an older brother who served in the Army, a younger596one who is a submariner veteran, and a sister who is a retired597Navy captain.598    But I'm the only one who faced a terrorist attack while599serving her country in the Middle East. During 30-plus years of600assignments in the State Department I stepped up to challenges601in Cairo, Jakarta, Baghdad, and the Gaza Strip.602    Because of the stellar record and more, I was selected as603the first woman to lead a diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.604America got to show her best leaders come from all backgrounds.605    So when called on to go to one of the most conservative606nations in the world, as a working mom with a young family I607was honored to go, and when terrorist threats required my608family's evacuation and separated us for 18 months I stayed.609    My presence conveyed a powerful testimony about the rights,610capabilities, and patriotism of women without uttering a word.611Even so, the most challenging assignment that I took on in my61230-plus career--year career was to support my colleagues, all613of them, as chief diversity and inclusion officer for the614department--CDIO.615    Why do the hard and too often misunderstood work to ensure616America's representatives represent the breadth and complexity617of our nation?618    Well, as Secretary Rubio said at my first hearing as CDIO,619not only is our Nation's diversity our strength but if our620workforce doesn't reflect our population then it merits621inquiry.622    So three reasons. We aim to create a system that ensures623the very best rise to the top. There's no difference in this624administration's stated goal of a merit-based society and the625goals of the DEIA effort that I oversaw at the State626Department, and we worked to address behavior that too often627led to EEO complaints.628    Two, we wanted to save taxpayer money. It takes hundreds of629thousands of dollars to train and ship around the world highly630talented and highly trained representatives.631    When talent leaves early and takes those skills with them632America loses. The Department has lost valuable talent,633perhaps, like the gentleman next to me, because they lost faith634in the system.635    And three, we have to walk the talk. In order to remain a636great power America's word must be trusted. We've told the637world we believe in a level playing field and our history of638service and achievement, from Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche,639the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo code breakers, and Dr. Samer Attar640show the world what we are capable of.641    And don't forget, the DEIA unit got its start under642President Trump and I thank him for that. President Biden643understood that we needed a larger effort to tackle well644embedded cronyism.645    Common sense tells us to deal successfully with the world's646issues. It's not enough to tap a few viewpoints, a few647backgrounds, a few experiences. We need diplomats who can648connect and engage with the range of humanity.649    Foreign Service officers advocate for America's priorities650at community centers--government buildings, yes, but factories,651remote border crossings, and farms and town squares.652    Let me be clear. Every change we made, every effort we653undertook, every data point we gathered, was cleared by our654lawyers.655    The Department of State has some of the finest and most656conservative lawyers in the government, and I can confidently657say that we followed the law and the intent of Congress.658    There were no so-called DEIA hires and anyone who says659otherwise is misinformed. Our focus was to dismantle cronyism,660bring transparency, and build trust.661    So let me talk about a few of the programs that we started.662Our method of assigning most diplomats is to have a bid list663where everybody can see what assignments are open. But in a key664position the deputy assistant secretary position was more665secretive.666    Those positions weren't advertised or competed. You had to667be known to the assistant secretary or someone in the assistant668secretary's circle.669    You had to have the right connections, be in the in crowd,670and because of this opacity only certain people even knew that671the position was open and available.672    This cronyism was far from meritocracy and the Office of673Diversity and Inclusion led the efforts to ensure that these674positions, like others, were advertised and openly competed.675    Is this something that the American people would want to676see turned back? This transparency, and I can tell you, the677first recipient of that DAS position under this new system was678a white male. He wasn't the only one but he was the first one679because inclusion means everyone.680    Another priority was to bring transparency and fairness to681the assignments at a lower level. We brought strong business682practices to improve our selection processes. We brought in683standardized questions and panel interviews, something that684business has been using for years but the Department of State685had not.686    One of my favorite changes was modeled on the U.S. military687culture, something I heard from my siblings all the time--we've688got your back.689    My office worked with key stakeholders in the building and690our embassies abroad and host governments to put a stop to691widespread harassment and discriminatory treatment to some of692our diplomats from various agencies at embassies overseas.693    Many reported being stopped, questioned, detained, even694harassed by government officials in a way that would be illegal695in the United States.696    Sometimes the diplomats----697    Mr. Mills. Madam Ambassador, your time is up.698    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Yes. All right. You see I'm699excited about these programs.700    [The prepared statement of Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley701follows:]702703[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]704705    Mr. Mills. I am as well.706    Thank you, Madam Ambassador.707    I now recognize myself for 5 minutes.708    You know, I want to go over a couple of things that you709just made mention of. You talked about inclusivity means710everyone.711    Can you tell me how doing an actual event which is only712tailored toward a certain gender or a certain sexual preference713or a certain racial bias is in some way inclusive of all as714opposed to just saying that everyone is welcome?715    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Mr. Chairman, when you say716doing a certain event are you talking about----717    Mr. Mills. Let's just say, for example, LGBTQI event. Do718you think that's inclusive of every individual that they would719feel that that's something that they want to partake in?720    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. So I believe that it is a721learning experience for people who don't belong to that group.722That's why----723    Mr. Mills. But, again, I'm asking--it's not about learning.724We do that a lot. I work in the Foreign Service as well.725    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Yes. You said is it inclusive.726    Mr. Mills. And I know for a fact that we learn about727cultures. We learn about regions.728    We learn about the idea of not just cultural exchanges but729also what are some of the actual norms that you can actually730learn about that allows you to be a better diplomat so that you731can engage with them?732    Because sometimes people are a little more vague and733ambiguous in how they say things but it's a cultural issue, not734they're trying to evade the question. So I understand that735portion of it.736    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Okay.737    Mr. Mills. But what we're talking about is inclusivity738means everyone.739    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Yes.740    Mr. Mills. So when you section off particular groups do you741think that it is inclusive when you're trying to tailor money742to only go toward those particular groups for particular743events?744    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. The point is to bring in745underrepresented groups. That is why, and we have the746statistics. GAO has done reports for many years that show we747have underrepresented groups in the Department of State.748    Therefore, while we hire for merit only we do have to749recruit in a more focused fashion for different groups. People750are----751    Mr. Mills. But don't you believe, though, that meritocracy752should be the only merit in which you're actually judged upon753or that you're graded upon?754    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Yes.755    Mr. Mills. It shouldn't matter any other factor other than756who's the very best at being able to do a job, and I don't757think that--having served in the United States military for a758number of years I don't think once did I look to my left and759right and say, gosh, I sure hope that he knows his pronouns.760Hmm, gosh, I sure hope that he has this background and culture.761Gosh.762    No. I said I hope that he's the absolute best war fighter763that we have who's standing to my left and right. That is the764only thing that I cared about as I fought with a gentleman who765was from Cambodia who lived in L.A., a man from Brooklyn, a man766from Lombard, Illinois, all of which the color of their skin767didn't matter.768    We all wore green, and that actually matters more so than769any other diversity, equity, inclusion, which has been nothing770but a divisive tool.771    But I will ask this. Can you please outline how much money772did the department allocate to fund the Office of Diversity,773Equity, and Inclusion every fiscal year?774    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Every fiscal year. At the775beginning my first year our budget was about $2.2 million. By776the time I left it had grown to about $7 million and these777figures are--you probably have access to them already, of778course.779    There were other programs throughout the building that780might have fallen under the rubric of what the Department of781State always used, which is recruit for diversity but we hire782for merit. There were no DEIA hires.783    Mr. Mills. And can you just explain to me how did this784funding advance American interests overseas? How did this785funding support the actual toppling of the Iranian regime who786was brutally murdering and torturing people like Mahsa Amini?787    How did this diversity, equity, and inclusion prevent the788Houthis from increasing attacks that disrupted 12 percent of789global trade, the unfreezing of assets that led to a790continuation of proxy funding?791    How did DEI and the office within the State Department help792our overseas security and national security interests?793    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Sure, if I may.794    Mr. Mills. Please.795    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. As I mentioned in my remarks796and as we all know from the 1960's our reputation matters.797That's how we build allies. That's how we build support.798    Mr. Mills. And trust matters, right?799    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. I beg your pardon?800    Mr. Mills. Trust. Our allies must trust that we're going to801be there, right?802    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Trust but that we are going803to----804    Mr. Mills. Just like Biden showed trust when he withdrew us805from Afghanistan, abandoning so many of our SIV and others who806fought alongside us for 20-plus years for political reasons.807    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. I believe that was a great harm808and I understand that that harm is continuing even now with the809SIVs, that they are not able----810    Mr. Mills. That's correct.811    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley [continuing]. to come to the812United States now which is not good. But if I may answer the813question that you asked, our reputation of being a country814where merit counts, where if you work hard for you can achieve,815and that means all of us going and showing the world that all816of us are able to benefit from our hard work is important. It817does help our foreign policy.818    Mr. Mills. Well, I agree that hard work matters, especially819as a person who grew up in a broken home where my dad spent 32820years in prison, my mom spent seven and a half years in prison.821It was riddled with drug addiction and other substance abuses.822    Hard work is what matters. Hard work is what got me here823and why our socioeconomic background shouldn't define us as824individuals and we shouldn't, like, divisively try and identify825people by anything other than the best and the hardest working.826    With that, I'd like to now recognize my ranking member Mr.827Moskowitz for 5 minutes.828    Mr. Moskowitz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.829    I'm actually going to go to Madeline Dean first for830questions if that's Okay.831    Mr. Mills. Recognizing the gentlelady Madeline Dean.832    Ms. Dean. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Ranking833Member.834    Thank you to all of you for coming to testify today before835this Subcommittee on Oversight Foreign Affairs Committee.836    I'm touched by your comments there--your personal comments.837I don't know if you know this but a passion of mine is dealing838with learning more about addiction.839    I have a son in recovery from opioid addiction 12 and a840half years. But we know too many people who don't have that841kind of outcome so I'd like to work with you on that.842    Thank you.843    I'm going to start with some words. Pete Buttigieg once844explained DEI as a set of opposites. The opposite of diversity845is uniformity, he said. The opposite of equity is inequity. The846opposite of inclusion is exclusion.847    The values and principles of our country are not848uniformity, inequity, and exclusion. That's not the America I849know nor is it the America I will ever fight for.850    Mr. Chair, is the committee aware of who is president of851the United States today?852    Donald J. Trump. It's not Joseph R. Biden. This backward853look on a topic of DEI is such a misuse of our time. It's a854misuse of your time. The role of this Foreign Affairs Committee855in oversight is important.856    Yet, Republicans have decided that relitigating the Biden857administration is a better use of our time. I disagree because858oversight is important. There are plenty of actions by the859current administration that warrant oversight. Here are just860three examples.861    The illegal shuttering of USAID and the subsequent spread862of disease, death, and starvation of children deserves our863oversight and our attention.864    Two, the national security advisor's irresponsible and865likely criminal use of Signal and apparently many, many times,866as well as Gmail, recklessly compromising our own national867security and a military operation as well as intelligence868officers and military personnel. Boy, that deserves869congressional Foreign Affairs oversight.870    No. 3, the incompetent and incoherent use of massive871tariffs even on our allies, especially on our allies, deserves872congressional oversight. It is the largest tax hike on873Americans in peacetime since World War II.874    We should be taking a look at the loss of $11 trillion in87511 weeks by this president who inherited an economy that was876the envy of our allies.877    And while this president weaponizes tariffs against our878allies they continue to show respect to our country. They879continue to show respect to our country but the President does880not show respect for theirs.881    Lithuanian leaders--think of this. You saw this. It was so882moving. Lithuanian leaders and citizens gathered to give our883four fallen American soldiers a dignified and honorable884farewell as they sent them here to the United States.885    But where was the commander in chief? He canceled his886attendance at the dignified transfer of the four--the bodies of887four American soldiers who tragically died in Lithuania.888    Well, after all he had a couple of golf games to go to, a889million-dollar-a-plate fundraiser for a PAC that supports him,890and I guess a few tchotchkes--Trump tchotchkes to sell along891the way.892    Don't attend the return of our fallen heroes. Who exactly893was he raising the money for? I'm not really sure. Certainly894not the American people who are suffering massive losses in895their retirement, in their attempt to save money for their896kids' education, in their attempt to pay for everyday goods.897    But here we are talking about DEI under the Biden898administration. Are you kidding me? This is a farce. I899apologize that you are here for this farce. You should not be.900    As qualified as you are this is not what you should be901talking about with us. I regret the waste of your time, the902circus that this is. As you might imagine, I am utterly903outraged.904    Today's hearing is unserious and unworthy of this905committee. It reflects poorly on those in this room who decided906to convene it and I want to be sure that is on the record.907    Mr. Chairman, I yield back with the simple question who is908the president of the United States?909    Mr. Mills. I think it's very obvious the American people910unanimously decided to elect President Donald J. Trump----911    Ms. Dean. Unanimously decided?912    Mr. Mills [continuing]. but I will remind the gentlelady913from Pennsylvania that all last Congress in the 118th all I914heard about was the Trump derangement syndrome, of Trump,915Trump, Trump.916    But yet you want to talk about the four bodies. Let's talk917about when Joe Biden was checking his watch while they were918offloading what was his responsibility and his failure----919    Ms. Dean. Ninety-six----920    Mr. Mills [continuing]. on August 26th, 2021----921    Ms. Dean. Ninety-six members----922    Mr. Mills [continuing]. when we lost 13.923    Ms. Dean. Ninety-six members have been returned. Donald924Trump was there for four.925    Mr. Mills. Ms. Dean--Ms. Dean, I reclaim--Ms. Dean, your926time is over.927    Ms. Dean. Unanimous consent to enter some documents in the928record.929    Mr. Mills. Without objection, so ordered.930931    [Please refer to the Appendix for the documents mentioned932above:]933934    Ms. Dean. Let me just tell you what they are.935    I'll enter into the record Fiscal Year 1922 NDAA which had936bipartisan support including Secretary Rubio who was an937original co-sponsor that explicitly endorsed promotion of DEI.938    No. 2--oh, the Secretary said, quote, ``The Secretary shall939implement performance and advancement requirements that reward940and recognize the efforts of individual in senior positions and941supervisors in the department in fostering an inclusive942environment and cultivating talent consistent with the merit943system principles such as such participation in mentoring944programs or sponsorship initiatives, recruitment events, and945other similar opportunities.''946    I'll also note for the record the bipartisan statement from947Representatives McCaul and Meeks in 2021 applauding the NDAA's948focus on strengthening management operations of the Defense,949Department of State by recruiting and retaining a diverse950workforce.951    I'd also like to enter into the record two articles from952The Atlantic that I'm sure everyone here is familiar with953regarding the national security advisor's use of Signal. They954are by Jeffrey Goldberg.955    No. 1 is Trump administration accidentally texted me war956plans, for the record. No. 2, here are the attack plans that957Trump advisors shared on Signal, and the final, Nick Kristoff,958New York Times talking about exactly the cost of shuttering959USAID, the millions around this world who will lose their960lives.961    With that, I yield back.962    Mr. Mills. Okay. I appreciate it, Ms. Dean, but I will just963go ahead and say while you were mentioning Senator Rubio, now964Secretary Rubio, while you were mentioning Chairman McCaul, no965longer chairman of the Foreign Affairs, and Ranking Member966Meeks, I'll ask the question that you asked me to make it967easier. Who is the President of the United States right now?968    Ms. Dean. Donald Trump.969    Mr. Mills. At the directive of President Trump DEI is970something that we will be eliminating. But we will enter your971documents into the record and I genuinely look forward to972working with you on things like substance abuse and addiction973issues.974    Ms. Dean. That too.975    Mr. Mills. It's something that is not studied enough, as976well as for mental health, which is a key thing, and I will977point out and recognize a Marine, Carl Castillo, who just took978his life last week.979    We definitely need to do more, and it's not just continuing980to issue out more pharmaceutical drugs----981    Ms. Dean. No.982    Mr. Mills [continuing]. for our service members.983    Ms. Dean. I look forward to working with you on that.984    Mr. Mills. Likewise.985    Ms. Dean. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.986    Mr. Mills. With that, I'd like to recognize at this time987the gentleman from Illinois Representative Schneider for 5988minutes.989    Mr. Schneider. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to990associate myself with the words of my colleague from991Pennsylvania, Ms. Dean.992    The world's on fire. Russia is consolidating gains in993Ukraine. China is testing red lines in the Pacific. Iran994proxies are active across the Middle East and now, just995yesterday, the Trump administration announced he has opened996direct talks with Iran.997    That's a major development, one with implications for the998regional stability, for nuclear proliferation, and for U.S.999deterrence. This subcommittee focused on oversight and1000intelligence is precisely the place we should be asking about1001these issues and asking tough questions.1002    What are the administration's objectives? What is the1003intelligence shaping this approach? What are the risks? What1004are our allies being told and how are they supporting us or1005challenging us?1006    But we're not doing that today. In his opening remarks the1007chair appeared to claim that it was DEI policies that was1008responsible for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Hamas' invasion1009of Israel, China's actions in the Indo-Pacific. I don't think1010he believes that but that's what this hearing seems to imply.1011    I'll use my military language. I won't. I'm just going to1012say we shouldn't be doing this. I was going to.1013    So we're holding a hearing instead to relegate the past1014administration's diversity initiatives at the State Department1015while Tehran and Moscow coordinate and Beijing expands its1016influence.1017    What are we doing? We're attacking internal H.R. policies,1018attacking them with some absurd--I have to say, absurd1019arguments, gentlemen.1020    This is not serious foreign policy oversight. It's a1021political sideshow and it's profound abdication of the1022responsibility we hold in this committee as Members of1023Congress.1024    To be clear, I don't defend every initiative of the1025previous administration. I didn't then. I don't now. I raised1026concerns publicly and privately.1027    But at least their efforts to broaden recruitment and1028strengthen retention at the State Department were aimed at1029building institutional capacity, strengthening America's1030capacity to perform diplomacy and development around the world,1031making our country more safe and more secure. That's more than1032I can say for what we are doing today.1033    This hearing has nothing to do with confronting our1034adversaries. It has nothing to do with securing American1035leadership in a dangerous world.1036    It has everything to do with scoring short-term political1037points and earning the favor of the gentleman at 16001038Pennsylvania.1039    At a time when our credibility, our alliances, and our1040deterrence postage posture are on the line, we should be1041focused on the hard work of oversight, asking hard, challenging1042questions, reviewing classified assessments, holding this1043administration accountable for the real decisions like was made1044or at least announced yesterday.1045    Instead, this committee is looking inward, picking fights1046with civil servants and dangerously wasting the moment. This1047isn't leadership. This is abdication.1048    I want to pick up on something else that my colleague said.1049She quoted former Secretary Buttigieg--diversity is1050uniformity--and I'm going to argue that uniformity is a threat1051to what we are or who we are trying to be as a nation and our1052diplomacy.1053    And I'll ask any of the two gentlemen--I'll read a quote1054and see if you share a concern I have about this. The quote is,1055quote, ``The Department of State's specialists on Near East1056were almost without exception unfriendly to the idea of a1057Jewish State. Some thought the Arabs on account of their number1058and because of the fact that they control such immense oil1059resources should be appeased. Some among them were also1060inclined to be anti-Semitic.''1061    I want to make plain that the President of the United1062States and not the State Department is responsible for making1063foreign policy.1064    Do you agree with that, Mr. Hankinson?1065    Mr. Hankinson. Absolutely, the President of the United1066States is in charge of foreign policy.1067    Mr. Schneider. Mr. Rogers?1068    Mr. Rogers. Yes, I agree that the President is in charge of1069foreign policy.1070    Mr. Schneider. Ambassador, do you know who said that, by1071any chance? It's a trick question.1072    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. I think I do know who said it1073but I'll say no.1074    Mr. Schneider. It was President Truman. President Truman1075was talking about the Arabists in the State Department because1076at that time we had uniformity in our State Department,1077uniformity in thinking, uniformity of experience, oftentimes1078uniformity in education.1079    The reason we promote diversity in our diplomatic corps1080from the most senior Ambassadors to the most junior foreign1081officers is because we need their experience. We need their1082perspective.1083    And if we go down a path where--it's not just merit. Merit1084counts. It's imperative. But if we only say merit is the only1085thing then we end up with a State Department that looked like1086it did in the 1940's.1087    That's not what we want. We want a State Department that is1088prepared for the challenges of the 2025s and the century ahead1089with a rising China, a threatening Iran, and a threatening1090Russia.1091    We need these diversity programs to bring in people with a1092variety of perspectives, a variety of experiences, and a1093variety of ideas, and so I resent the idea that we should all1094be thinking alike or looking alike or following the same path.1095We need to challenge each other.1096    Mr. Mills. Time is over.1097    Mr. Schneider. I yield back.1098    Mr. Mills. And I do appreciate a lot of your sentiments and1099a lot of the comments. I agree with you. The President is1100responsible for foreign policy and there is no debate on that1101whatsoever.1102    President Biden is responsible for the increase in Iranian1103aggression, for the defunding of many of the programs that were1104working for Russia's continual focus whenever he wouldn't1105actually authorize lethal aid.1106    It was President Trump who actually authorized lethal aid1107for the Ukrainians. It was President Biden who actually1108delisted the Houthi rebels that has disrupted 12 percent of1109global trade.1110    Mr. Schneider. Are we extending time for debate?1111    Mr. Mills. And I'm happy to----1112    Mr. Schneider. Okay.1113    Mr. Mills [continuing]. because at the end of the day,1114October 7th in Israel would not have occurred under President1115Trump because there wouldn't have been $10 billion in unfrozen,1116fungible assets or up--what is it now? One point seven billion1117barrels per day under President Trump. It was a half million1118barrels per day.1119    When you talk about the illicit oil and ghost ships that1120are going. And, look, I'm happy to have foreign policy1121discussions.1122    We can go as far back into the Ottoman Empire expansion1123from Suleiman all the way up to 2011 when we talk about the1124Arab Spring and uprisings. I spent 10-plus years----1125    Mr. Schneider. It's going to be a long hearing.1126    Mr. Mills. It'd be a long hearing.1127    But I spent over 10 years in the Middle East deployed in1128multiple locations. Foreign policy I do care about.1129    What I also care about is the strength of the State1130Department, the same way I care about the strength of the armed1131services, which I know you do as well.1132    And when I talk about--and Mr. Hankinson said it correctly.1133I don't care what my heart surgeon looks like. I care about1134whether or not he or she is the best at what she does.1135    So when you say that if we only base it on merit that's a1136mistake I disagree. I think having the best and the brightest,1137regardless of what they look like is the only thing that should1138matter.1139    Mr. Schneider. So I appreciate that. There was a time when1140merit was defined as did you have an Ivy League education. To1141get that Ivy League education you had to come from the prep1142schools of the East Coast.1143    Having the experiences--if I had more time to talk to1144witnesses I would ask the Ambassador why it's important that we1145have people who can relate to the experiences and perspectives1146of the nations we are sending them to represent our Nation.1147    Mr. Mills. And by the way, happy to give a second round of1148questioning should you want to ask that.1149    Mr. Schneider. I'll wait. I'm here.1150    Mr. Mills. At this time I'd like to acknowledge my good1151friend, our ranking member Representative Moskowitz.1152    Mr. Moskowitz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And in fairness to1153the chairman, he is by himself here so he is pulling--he is1154doing----1155    Mr. Mills. Yes, but the good thing is if there was nine of1156you it might be a fair fight.1157    Mr. Moskowitz. Okay. He's pulling the duty of this whole1158committee.1159    So, you know, and first let me say, Mr. Chairman, we1160appreciate your service to the country and your continued1161commitment to folks in the State Department and going to other1162countries during times of need. I mean, you have been there.1163    What we're saying--many things we're saying is, like, look,1164we didn't agree with the Biden administration on many things.1165There were many things that we didn't agree and we had these1166hearings already. These DEI hearings were occurring for 2 years1167when you guys had the 118th.1168    But at least when we disagreed with the Biden1169administration we were, like, able to say it. You can barely1170find a Republican who's willing to come out and disagree with1171the current administration, at least in the House.1172    I mean, a couple senators have come out and talked about1173the tariffs. I barely can find a Republican to come out and1174talk about the tariffs.1175    I mean, can you imagine if President Biden did anything1176that caused the stock market to go down 7,000 points? I mean,1177they would show, like, 500 pictures of different basements1178trying to find out where President Biden is.1179    Okay. You know, there is a lot to talk about of what's1180going on right now--a lot of talk about, right, and Republicans1181should feel Okay to defend those things. If they believe in1182them then they should be able to defend it.1183    But there's not a single committee--subcommittee or main1184committee--talking about anything that is going on now. It's1185all backward. It's all looking backward. I mean, you know, the1186President came in and said, we're going to solve the Ukraine1187war on day one.1188    That hasn't happened, right? That war still going on. In1189fact, Putin is the one who just turned down a cease-fire,1190right? We should be talking--we should be talking about that.1191    We had battle plans, attack plans--whichever adjective,1192verb you want to use--leaked on Signal. We talk about trust1193with our allies. I mean, that undermines trust with our allies.1194    We have tariffs. We're tariffing friend and foe alike--the1195whole world. That undermines trust and credibility. And that1196doesn't mean that there isn't bipartisan support to try to fix1197supply chain.1198    As someone who was the emergency management director during1199COVID our supply chain is broken. Democrats and Republicans in1200the Trump administration and the Biden administration spent $81201trillion after COVID. Didn't fix anything in the supply chain.1202    And so, yes, we do need to figure out how to onshore some1203of our manufacturing back but the execution of this is crazy.1204    I mean, that's why you're seeing people within the Trump1205administration fighting with each other in this Peter Navarro-1206Elon Musk stuff. You're seeing some of Trump's ardent1207supporters--billionaires--coming out and attacking the1208administration.1209    Everyone understands we got to onshore jobs but to tariff1210the whole world at the same time to crash the stock market when1211that was, clearly, going to be a repercussion these are things1212we should be talking about. You know, there was a lot--and you1213know how I like boards. I bring boards sometimes.1214    You know, when President Zelenskyy came to the White House,1215right, about, you know, during--to talk about trying to bring1216the conflict to an end we heard a lot about what he was1217wearing. Oh my God, the precious Oval Office. He didn't wear a1218suit.1219    I mean, here's a picture of Kid Rock in the Oval Office. He1220looks like he's about to jump over 10 busses, Okay, when he's1221done on the White House lawn.1222    Okay. So, like, give me a little bit of a break. OK, we can1223put that down now, I think. I think that picture solves itself.1224    But, you know, what else are we talking about, right? Oh,1225Canada, they're going to be the 51st State. I'd love to hear a1226hearing on that, right, to figure out how many people want to1227make that happen.1228    By the way, if Canada were to become the 51st State it'd be1229the last time we had a Republican president. It'd be the last1230time the Republicans ever controlled the U.S. House of1231Representatives because between California and Canada you have1232a lot more Democrats.1233    We heard that we're all going to vacation in Gaza. I mean,1234are you guys excited to go vacation in the Riviera of the1235Middle East. You know, we've been treating Canada and Greenland1236for the first 3 months tougher than we were treating Iran.1237    I'm glad now that we're focused on Iran. I'm glad that1238we're moving strategic resources there. It is an opportunity to1239talk about Iran. But we've been tougher on Europe for the first124090 days than we were on Tehran.1241    And so these are--there are lots of things that we can be1242talking about, Mr. Chairman, things that we haven't yet talked1243about, things that Republicans should feel comfortable in1244defending if they believe in them.1245    But we're going back to hearings we've already had, not1246just in this committee but a number of committees, and so1247that's why we're bringing it up, Mr. Chairman.1248    My time has elapsed and I yield back. Thank you.1249    Mr. Mills. Thank you, Ranking Member. We will now go to a1250second round of questions.1251    I will just State for the record that in order for us to1252move forward as a nation we must understand the mistakes of the1253past, and while this is just our first hearing I think it is1254apropos for us to go through the past so that our next hearings1255can focus on how do we actually resolve key issues.1256    But we did talk about oversight. The role of oversight is1257also how taxpayer moneys, us as good stewards, are being1258utilized and I think that we have seen where the offices of DEI1259utilizing the $2 million and $7 million and $10 million and1260continuing to go up in numbers could have been better spent on1261things that we all care about--stopping the Iranian regime from1262nuclear power and allowing it to be a democratically elected1263free Iran.1264    Stopping Russia's aggression, making sure that its1265territorial sovereignty--and stopping China's continuation of1266its advancement toward a one nation unification toward Taiwan.1267So I'm with you 100 percent and we all share that sentiment.1268    At this time I'll recognize myself for 5 minutes.1269    Mr. Hankinson, can you please outline the impact that DEI1270policies have had on recruitment and retention across the State1271Department?1272    Mr. Hankinson. On recruitment we've essentially--we can1273debate what the term DEI hire means but we have changed the way1274in which people come in.1275    Instead of you have to pass the written, then you take the1276oral, and then 10 percent of the people pass the oral. Now, you1277don't have to pass the written. They'll dig into that bucket1278with this holistic or whatever you want to call it, character1279review, just like the universities do so that they can get the1280right percentage.1281    Then they put them into the oral after they've gone through1282this thing called a qualification evaluations panel which,1283again, looks for personal essay, personal narrative, things1284that they can find to boost the right percentages, and then1285they pass 50 percent in the oral.1286    So it's changed. I would say it's rigged the system to1287provide results that they want as opposed to just judge people1288according to their abilities and merits. And so we've ended up1289with--and I take the point about diversity of viewpoint.1290    I think it's very important. Unfortunately, we've reduced1291the diversity of viewpoint and we very much have a more left-1292wing State Department than we did back in the days of Truman1293and even 20 years ago.1294    As far as morale, look, one side always wins when you rig a1295system so I imagine they feel better, but the other side loses1296and that's why as Americans it's always been so important that1297we judge each other not according to those immutable1298characteristics but by the things that are more important, and1299I would say that has suffered in the past 5 years.1300    Mr. Mills. Thank you so much.1301    And this whole rebranding of DEI, Mr. Rogers and Mr.1302Hankinson, in what ways could DEI initiatives continue under a1303different name or office within the State Department?1304    Mr. Rogers. They can just--we've seen this happen in1305multiple government agencies and private corporations. They1306just change the job title of the person administering the1307program.1308    They can rename existing programs but keep the same content1309of the programs and the rules that are applied. They can, like1310I said, change position titles and then they can put DEI1311concept into other programs that you wouldn't know that they1312had done it because, based on the name, you wouldn't be able to1313see it.1314    This is a real persistent problem is that sort of attempt1315to burrow it in and hide it in other places.1316    Mr. Mills. And what kind of protections, Mr. Hankinson, do1317you think that we should implement to ensure that DEI1318initiatives cannot just simply be rebranded under a different1319name?1320    Mr. Hankinson. It'll be difficult because they're pretty1321embedded and a lot of people believe in them and do very well1322out of them.1323    But I think one thing is oversight about where the money1324goes. The number I heard was more like $40 million over the1325past two fiscal years spent on DEI and related programs because1326you have to count things like paying a trainer $10,000 to come1327and talk to people about microaggressions. So I think that1328stuff has to go, the things that are divisive.1329    And then one suggestion that I have is to change the1330recruitment and the promotion process so that you eliminate all1331of the obvious factors that you can tell about somebody like1332their sex and their race and so on, so that you can judge them1333on how they did their job, how well they speak the language,1334how many times they've been to the region, and so on.1335    Mr. Mills. And just for the record, do you feel that since1336implementing the DEI office, or DEIA, that the State Department1337has become more effective in their diplomacy efforts and in1338securing U.S. national interests abroad?1339    Mr. Hankinson. I believe in metrics and I believe in proof1340and, you know, the science--I don't see any metric by which you1341can judge that we have gotten safer, more prosperous, or more1342effective as diplomats as a result of spending this money and1343I've seen some research that shows the exact opposite, that in1344fact morale and distrust and in general a sense of well-being1345among employees has gone slightly down.1346    Mr. Mills. Mr. James--Mr. Rogers, I'd love to hear your1347response as well.1348    Mr. Rogers. You know, there's this saying politics stops at1349the water's edge that was popularized after World War II, and1350there's a reason for that. It's because when the department's--1351not just the internal DEI programs.1352    It's this promotion like we talked about in my testimony--1353the department's been promoting DEI ideas all over the world1354and that doesn't make us safer because it's taking very1355divisive, contentious political issues we don't even agree on1356internally and trying to indoctrinate the rest of the world.1357    The Foreign Service shouldn't be a missionary force to1358promote a certain ideology and that encourages resentment among1359foreigners who don't accept the same cultural values.1360    There's this whole idea from President Wilson of self-1361determination and that just completely disrespects that1362principle that other countries should get to determine their1363own path forward rather than us dictating it to them.1364    Mr. Mills. And, Madam Ambassador, I'd be happy to hear your1365comments as well on whether or not you think that our U.S.1366national security interests were advanced in areas in the1367Middle East to help with stabilization as a result of the DEIA.1368    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Yes. I think they were1369beginning to be strengthened because we were walking the talk1370and there's a reason that businesses as well as others changed1371the titles but continued to do the work.1372    That's because they know the value of the work. That's why1373there are companies like Costco, like Coca Cola, like ELF, that1374continue with these programs because they know that it's good1375for their customers and it's good for their workers.1376    It's good management. If one of the programs I've listed1377for you is one that you would like to see go away, adding1378transparency and accountability--these are the things that we1379were working on to make a more inclusive and accountable and1380trusted organization and I would be surprised to hear my1381colleagues suggest that there shouldn't be transparency in1382assignments or promotions.1383    Mr. Mills. My time, unfortunately, has expired. But I1384believe that rebranding and rechanging the name is just trying1385to be tricky.1386    With that, I'd like to recognize the gentleman from1387Illinois Mr. Schneider for 5 minutes.1388    Mr. Schneider. Thank you, and thank you for giving us the1389chance to ask questions again.1390    Mr. Rogers, you talked about United States promoting ideals1391or values. Should the United States be promoting democracy1392around the world?1393    Mr. Rogers. Yes, it should promote democracy. But democracy1394doesn't include promoting DEIA. Promoting----1395    Mr. Schneider. I'm just asking, should we promote--should1396we should we be promoting anti-corruption around the world?1397    Mr. Rogers. Absolutely.1398    Mr. Schneider. Okay.1399    Mr. Hankinson, we've talked about as the State Department1400has changed. What percent of the senior ranks in the State1401Department are white?1402    Mr. Hankinson. I couldn't tell you exactly. I would say----1403    Mr. Schneider. If you were to guess, is it more or less1404than 50 percent?1405    Mr. Hankinson. It's--of the senior ranks it's probably far1406higher than 50 percent because they were recruited in the14071990's when the recruitment was not the same as it is today.1408    Mr. Schneider. Eighty-two point 4 percent.1409    So, you know, what's changed?1410    Mr. Hankinson. America's demography has changed. In 1990 it1411was probably 80 percent European and 12 percent African1412American, and the rest, you know, Hispanic and Asian. And now1413the numbers of Hispanics are far higher, Asians are far higher,1414and so you will see a change in the recruitment. Also women, I1415believe, are now slightly over 50 percent of new recruits.1416    Mr. Schneider. Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley, you've1417served in the State Department for a long time. You've been a1418diplomat around the world. I'm going to give you the rest of my1419time.1420    Can you talk about why it is so important--two things, that1421the people who travel across the world to represent our Nation1422reflect who we are as a nation and why as people see that they1423appreciate that the people who are in those countries have an1424appreciation for the nuance and distinctiveness of each of1425those countries?1426    Ms. Abercrombie-Winstanley. Absolutely. Thank you, sir.1427    I know from my own personal experience the surprise when I1428have walked into rooms representing the United States of1429America, the reaction of me being part of the delegation. Oh,1430you Americans you talk about this but you're actually doing it.1431    You're a U.S. diplomat, and it brings us credibility as a1432Nation, a nation that has said for centuries that everybody can1433come here and reach their full potential.1434    That is what DEIA is about, trying to level the playing1435field so that people get as far as their abilities will take1436them. That is the message that we've been giving the world and1437we have to show that diversity to be taken seriously.1438    And people are watching us now as well because we did make1439the case successfully about leveling that playing field. Again,1440the Department of State recruits where all of our different1441populations are the Nation, and we do live separately.1442    People say Sunday morning is the most segregated time of1443the week in America. So we are in different places so we have1444to recruit in different places, but we hire for merit. You have1445to pass that written exam, until we made the changes, and1446keeping in mind that the written exam was very similar to an1447SAT test.1448    Those sorts of questions are not what determine whether1449you're going to be a good diplomat. That's in the oral1450assessment, the assessment when we're asking people1451hypotheticals about situations that have happened with1452diplomats.1453    That is where the rubber hits the road, and I've been an1454assessor so I'm very familiar with all three sections of this1455exam and the difference, and my colleagues will know this1456because they've been through both. They know what that written1457test is and they know what the oral test is.1458    So these are the things that help us get all of America1459through the door and out to the world. Languages, first hand1460experiences with different cultures, my ability to blend in the1461streets of Cairo were what got my Arabic so good and my ability1462to do negotiations in the vernacular, to do interpretations.1463    When Governor Sununu came to Egypt I was the one that was1464his interpreter for meetings. Those are the sorts of things1465that come because we have all Americans represented and the1466world is watching us.1467    We cannot give up on this, and people will continue to do1468it. They'll call it something else but it's good leadership.1469    It's good management to take care of all of your people,1470not just the ones that remind you of you or that you have1471something in common and went to the same school as you. Take1472care of everybody. That's inclusion.1473    Mr. Schneider. And I'll add one thing with the writing1474test.1475    I was an engineer undergraduate. Writing was not my1476strength. I know that if I was going to get into a career and1477succeed I had to learn to write, but if I could get in the door1478I would have the chance to gain those skills and use my other1479skills that come naturally to succeed.1480    That's why we have to balance how we evaluate people, not1481with a standardized test but with evaluations of what do they1482bring in the full package.1483    I yield back.1484    Mr. Mills. Thank you so much, Mr. Schneider.1485    I'll just point out the fact that there's a difference in1486equity and equality, and the difference is is one believes in1487equal opportunity. The other one believes in equal outcome, and1488that is not merit.1489    And I will say one more time that it is important for us to1490understand the history and our past mistakes in order to try1491and advance and move forward to guarantee we have a stronger1492diplomatic corps, to make sure that our armed forces have1493everything they need, because none of our adversaries are1494scared by the ideas that we can he/him, she/her, they/them or1495out pronoun them as we walk on to the battlefields, whether1496that be militarily, diplomatically or economically, and I can1497tell you that the Ayatollah in Iran is not sitting there1498worrying about our diversity, equity, and inclusion. They're1499worried about the fact that this is the strongest nation on1500Earth.1501    I want to thank the witnesses for their valuable1502testimoneys and the members for the questions. The members of1503the subcommittee may have some additional questions for the1504witnesses and we will ask you to respond to these in writing.1505    Pursuant to committee rules, all members may have 5 days to1506submit these questions and extraneous materials for the record,1507subject to the length and limitations.1508    Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.1509    [Whereupon, at 4:44 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]15101511                                APPENDIX15121513                               ----------15141515               Material Submitted for the Hearing Record15161517[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]15181519                             [all]