State Department: Staffing and Foreign Language Shortfalls Persist Despite Initiatives to Address Gaps

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-08-01 monographic deposited born digital 22 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-1154T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T P0b002ee180373ff2 f:d071154t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T GAO-07-1154T Civil service jobs Diplomats Employee incentives Employee training Employees Foreign languages International relations Labor shortages Performance appraisal Program evaluation Staff utilization Hardship duty pay Program implementation Dept. of State Diplomatic Readiness Initiative Testimony A73767 State Department: Staffing and Foreign Language Shortfalls Persist Despite Initiatives to Address Gaps GAO has reported in recent years on a number of human capital issues that have hampered the Department of State's (State) ability to carry out U.S. foreign policy priorities and objectives, particularly at posts central to the war on terror. In 2002, State implemented the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative (DRI) to address shortfalls in the number and skills of State employees. This testimony addresses State's progress in (1) addressing staffing shortfalls since the implementation of DRI and (2) filling gaps in the language proficiency of Foreign Service officers and other staff. To accomplish these objectives, GAO analyzed staffing and language data and met with State officials. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T.pdf GAO-07-1154T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1154T Testimony GAO-07-1154T; State Department: Staffing and Foreign Language Shortfalls Persist Despite Initiatives to Address Gaps; Civil service jobs Diplomats Employee incentives Employee training Employees Foreign languages International relations Labor shortages Performance appraisal Program evaluation Staff utilization Hardship duty pay Program implementation Dept. of State Diplomatic Readiness Initiative