U.S. State Department cable says agency using AI to help staff job panels
The cable said that StateChat, an in-house chatbot which works using technology from Palantir and Microsoft, will be employed to pick foreign service officers for participation on the Foreign Service Selection Boards, the annual evaluation panels which decide whether and how to promote and shuffle around State Department employees.
In a statement, a department spokesperson said the evaluations themselves "will not be done by AI."
The boards, whose role is governed by the 1980 Foreign Service Act, play a critical role in the State Department's personnel promotion decisions, managing the annual process by which diplomats and others jump from one professional grade to the next.
By statute, the boards are meant to include "a substantial number of women and members of minority groups." The State Department has been using StateChat since last year to transcribe notes, draft emails, and analyze diplomatic cables. Last week the agency's acting chief data and AI officer, Amy Ritualo, told a Palantir conference that StateChat had about 40,000 users across her agency. The program's role in the human resources process, however, has not previously been disclosed.
Last month the State Department abruptly postponed the boards, and previously selected members received emails saying their services were no longer required.
Monday's cable said that StateChat's technology would instead be used to "perform unbiased selection" for the boards based on employees' internally adjudicated skill codes and grades. That list would then be screened, for example for disciplinary and security issues, before being used to create the panels. There was no mention of female or minority representation.
President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly attacked what Republicans refer to as "DEI," a catch-all term covering work protecting civil rights, fighting discrimination, and boosting diversity.
The American Foreign Service Association, which represents State Department employees, did not directly comment on the use of AI but said it was seeking clarification from agency leadership about how it intends to comply with its legal obligations around women and minority group representation.
Palantir and Microsoft didn't immediately return messages. Although the deployment of AI by officials precedes Trump's reelection in 2024, his administration has aggressively expanded its use since his return to power. Last month Reuters reported that tech tycoon Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service was expanding its use of the AI chatbot Grok across the U.S. federal government.
In April, Reuters reported that Trump administration officials had told some U.S. government employees that DOGE was using AI to monitor at least one federal agency's communications for hostility to the president.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
Explained: What Is Inside Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' And Why It Is Sparking So Much Heat
New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump calls it his 'Big Beautiful Bill'. Behind the grand name lies a controversial piece of legislation. It mixes tax cuts, deep spending shifts, new defense boosts and changes to healthcare and social aid. The Senate passed it after a marathon session. Now, it heads to the House, where the debate could get even more intense. Here's a breakdown of what the bill actually does and why it is causing so much uproar. At the centre of the bill lies Trump's push to extend the 2017 tax cuts. Those cuts were due to expire in 2025. This bill makes most of them permanent. High earners stand to benefit the most. Wealthier families would keep their deductions and lower tax rates. A few new benefits are added too such as deductions on tips, car loan interest (if the car is made in the US) and overtime pay. One major change – the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap would rise from $10,000 to $40,000 but only for five years. Estimated cost of all tax breaks – $4.5 trillion over a decade. Without the bill, the current child tax credit – $2,000 per child – would fall to $1,000 by 2026. With the bill, the credit increases to $2,200 per child. It is not a dramatic jump, but a politically safe one. The bill pushes $350 billion toward national security and border enforcement. That includes $46 billion for Trump's Mexico border wall, $45 billion for migrant detention beds and billions more to hire 10,000 new ICE agents. This part of the bill closely mirrors Trump's immigration crackdown promises. To help fund tax breaks and defense spending, the bill slashes safety net programmes. That includes Medicaid and SNAP (food aid). Republicans say the goal is to 'refocus' these programmes on the most vulnerable – children, pregnant women and disabled citizens. But the Congressional Budget Office says around 11.8 million Americans could lose health coverage if the bill becomes law. The bill guts tax credits for solar, wind and electric vehicles. A tax break for electric car buyers would end this year, not 2032, as current law allows. This rollback hits the core of former President Joe Biden's climate policy, especially his Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. debt already stands at $36.2 trillion. Trump's bill adds another $3.3 trillion over 10 years and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion – higher than what the House had approved earlier. According to Yale's Budget Lab, top earners gain 2.2% in income and lowest earners lose 2.5%, mainly from cuts to food and healthcare support. Wealthier Americans keep more money. Low-income families may face new struggles. Senate passed it with 51-50 votes. Every Democrat opposed the bill. Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote. Republican support was shaky but held after last-minute amendments. The bill now goes to the House. If the House changes anything, the Senate will have to vote again. Both chambers must agree on a final version before Trump can sign it into law. He is hoping to do that by July 4, but even he admitted, 'It is going to be hard.' Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' is huge in size and impact. It brings major tax relief to some, while pulling back on healthcare and aid for others. It fuels defense and border spending, but balloons national debt. And it could redefine America's budget if it survives the House.
Economic Times
39 minutes ago
- Economic Times
How will the big beautiful bill become a law: number of votes, approval in both chambers and the complete process
The US Senate passed President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' after a long debate. The bill needed a simple majority due to budget rules. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives will now vote on the bill. The journey from bill to law in the United States. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How many votes are needed in the Senate? How many votes are needed in the House? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is supermajority? How does a bill become a law in the U.S.? Introduction: A member of Congress (either House or Senate) introduces the bill. It's assigned a number and referred to the relevant committee for review. Committee Action: The committee studies the bill, holds hearings, and may revise it. If approved, the bill moves to the full chamber. Floor Debate and Vote: The bill is debated on the chamber floor. Amendments may be proposed. A vote is taken—if it passes by a simple majority, it moves to the other chamber. The Other Chamber: The process repeats in the second chamber (House or Senate). If the second chamber amends the bill, it returns to the first chamber for agreement. Conference Committee (if needed): If the two chambers pass different versions, a conference committee of members from both chambers negotiates a compromise. Both chambers must then approve the final version. Presidential Action: The bill is sent to the President, who can sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. What's next for the bid beautiful bill? President Trump's much-anticipated 'Big Beautiful Bill,' aimed at extending his signature 2017 tax cuts and reshaping federal spending, has just passed the U.S. Senate after a marathon session. But how many votes did it actually require- and what's the journey from bill to law in the United States?For most major bills, the U.S. Senate needs a simple majority- at least 51 out of 100 votes- to pass. But, if senators try to block a bill with a filibuster, it takes 60 votes (three-fifths of the Senate) to end the debate and move the 'Big Beautiful Bill' used special budget reconciliation rules, which let the Senate skip the filibuster and pass the bill with just a simple majority In this case, the final tally was 50-50 after three Republicans (Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul) joined all Democrats in opposition. Vice President JD Vance, presiding over the Senate, cast the tie-breaking 51st vote to pass the billAfter nearly 48 hours of debate and a ' vote-a-rama ' on amendments, the bill squeaked through- showing just how tight the margins can be for major a bill moves to the House of Representatives , it faces a tight vote. The House is made up of 435 voting members, and passing legislation requires a simple majority- at least 218 votes if all members are present and previous House version of the ' big beautiful bill ' passed by just 215-214, showing how razor-thin the margins are. The Republican's House majority currently stands at just 220-212, leaving little room for defections.A supermajority is when a higher threshold is required than a simple majority for the bill to pass either of the chamber. It is required for certain actions in Congress . For example, overriding a presidential veto needs a two-thirds majority- 290 out of 435 votes in the House and 67 out of 100 in the Senate. Additionally, constitutional amendments and some impeachment proceedings also demand a two-thirds the Senate's approval, the bill now heads to the House Rules Committee, which will set the terms for debate. The House will then vote on the bill. If the House passes the Senate's version, it goes straight to President Trump for his signature. If the House amends the bill, it returns to the Senate for further negotiation or a conference both chambers agree on the final text, President Trump can sign it into law—cementing another major legislative victory for his administration.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
How will the big beautiful bill become a law: number of votes, approval in both chambers and the complete process
How many votes are needed in the Senate? How many votes are needed in the House? Live Events What is supermajority? How does a bill become a law in the U.S.? Introduction: A member of Congress (either House or Senate) introduces the bill. It's assigned a number and referred to the relevant committee for review. Committee Action: The committee studies the bill, holds hearings, and may revise it. If approved, the bill moves to the full chamber. Floor Debate and Vote: The bill is debated on the chamber floor. Amendments may be proposed. A vote is taken—if it passes by a simple majority, it moves to the other chamber. The Other Chamber: The process repeats in the second chamber (House or Senate). If the second chamber amends the bill, it returns to the first chamber for agreement. Conference Committee (if needed): If the two chambers pass different versions, a conference committee of members from both chambers negotiates a compromise. Both chambers must then approve the final version. Presidential Action: The bill is sent to the President, who can sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. What's next for the bid beautiful bill? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel President Trump's much-anticipated 'Big Beautiful Bill,' aimed at extending his signature 2017 tax cuts and reshaping federal spending, has just passed the U.S. Senate after a marathon session. But how many votes did it actually require- and what's the journey from bill to law in the United States?For most major bills, the U.S. Senate needs a simple majority- at least 51 out of 100 votes- to pass. But, if senators try to block a bill with a filibuster, it takes 60 votes (three-fifths of the Senate) to end the debate and move the 'Big Beautiful Bill' used special budget reconciliation rules, which let the Senate skip the filibuster and pass the bill with just a simple majority In this case, the final tally was 50-50 after three Republicans (Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul) joined all Democrats in opposition. Vice President JD Vance, presiding over the Senate, cast the tie-breaking 51st vote to pass the billAfter nearly 48 hours of debate and a ' vote-a-rama ' on amendments, the bill squeaked through- showing just how tight the margins can be for major a bill moves to the House of Representatives , it faces a tight vote. The House is made up of 435 voting members, and passing legislation requires a simple majority- at least 218 votes if all members are present and previous House version of the ' big beautiful bill ' passed by just 215-214, showing how razor-thin the margins are. The Republican's House majority currently stands at just 220-212, leaving little room for defections.A supermajority is when a higher threshold is required than a simple majority for the bill to pass either of the chamber. It is required for certain actions in Congress . For example, overriding a presidential veto needs a two-thirds majority- 290 out of 435 votes in the House and 67 out of 100 in the Senate. Additionally, constitutional amendments and some impeachment proceedings also demand a two-thirds the Senate's approval, the bill now heads to the House Rules Committee, which will set the terms for debate. The House will then vote on the bill. If the House passes the Senate's version, it goes straight to President Trump for his signature. If the House amends the bill, it returns to the Senate for further negotiation or a conference both chambers agree on the final text, President Trump can sign it into law—cementing another major legislative victory for his administration.
