Information Report: Review of the Department of State Compliance With Executive Order 13950 on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

On September 22, 2020, the White House issued Executive Order (EO) 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, to “promote economy and efficiency in Federal contracting, to promote unity in the Federal workforce, and to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.”¹ Among other requirements, EO 13950 requires the agency head to take certain steps to ensure agency compliance with the EO, including to “issue an order incorporating the requirements of [the EO] into agency operations[.]”² The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether the Department of State (Department) has taken steps to implement EO 13950 § 6(c).³

In its review, OIG found that the Department has taken the necessary steps to comply with EO 13950 § 6(c). Specifically, the Secretary of State issued two agency-wide orders to incorporate the requirements of the EO into agency operations and designated the Under Secretary for Management as the senior political appointee to oversee the implementation of the EO. Following the Secretary of State’s orders, the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive,⁴ issued subsequent guidance requiring the Department’s contractors and grantees to comply with the EO. Finally, the Undersecretary for Management, on behalf of the Secretary of State, requested that OIG review and assess agency compliance with the EO in the form of a report.

Based on the Department’s actions, OIG concludes that the Department has complied with the requirements set forth in EO 13950 § 6(c). In accordance with EO 13950 § 6(c)(ii), OIG is transmitting a copy of this report to the Office of Management and Budget.

^{1 EO 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, September 22, 2020.
2 EO 13950, September 22, 2020, at § 6(c)(i).
3 Because EO 13950 requires Offices of Inspectors General to complete a review and report findings to the Office of Management and Budget by the end of the calendar year, OIG limited its evaluation in calendar year 2020 to the Department’s compliance with § 6(c) of the EO. OIG’s review in calendar year 2021 will be broader in scope and will evaluate the Department’s compliance with all provisions of the EO.
4 The Office of the Procurement Executive evaluates, monitors, and reports on the performance of the Department’s procurement system in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.}