The State Department announced a sweeping reform of how it evaluates Foreign Service Officers, shifting from an outdated system to a new matrix-style, data-driven assessment designed to reduce favoritism and better identify top performers.

The changes, championed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aim to modernize personnel practices and fast-track high-achieving diplomats into critical roles. Deputy Secretary Chris Landau said the previous system relied too heavily on inflated written evaluations that rewarded consensus over results.

“For too long, our system rewarded consensus and score inflation instead of distinguishing between officers who consistently deliver results and those who do not,” Landau told the Daily Wire.

Under the old process, lengthy Employee Evaluation Reports often became exercises in self-promotion, with some supervisors even allowing employees to draft portions of their own reviews. This led to uniformly positive assessments, making it difficult to distinguish strong performers from others, according to current and former officers.

The new framework aligns with the Trump administration’s broader push for greater accountability across federal agencies. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott noted that career Foreign Service Officers helped design the updated system, drawing on best practices from across government.

Officials say the reforms will establish clearer performance standards, reduce bureaucratic waste, and ensure diplomats are placed in positions that match their skills and experience. One Foreign Service Officer called the overhaul “a significant improvement” that should restore trust in the promotion process.

The changes represent one of the most notable internal management reforms at the State Department under Rubio’s leadership.