The US State Department has introduced sweeping reforms to its Foreign Service Officer (FSO) exam and training system, shifting its focus to a more 'merit-based' and 'America First' framework.
The changes, part of the Trump administration's efforts to reshape US diplomacy, eliminate questions linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and test applicants on American history, foreign policy concepts, and logical reasoning.
The revised exam places greater emphasis on logic, reasoning, and writing skills, while the onboarding process for new diplomats will include lectures on 'America First' foreign policy and readings from US founding figures.
The reforms have sparked concerns among critics, who argue that the changes are an attempt to inject an administration-specific agenda into the training programme.
