Trump Transition Team Sparks Fears of State Dept. Witch Hunt After Demanding Info on Gender Equality Programs

Officials Fear Trump Administration Trying to Determine What Programs Are Focused on LGBT, Women’s Issues

State Department officials are concerned the Trump administration may be poised for a witch hunt after receiving a memo from the president-elect’s transition team instructing they turn over all information on “gender-related staffing, programming, and funding.” Hillary Clinton focused on programs for women and girls, LGBT people, and on gender equality.

The memo “rattled State Department employees, even those at senior levels,” The New York Times reports. “Some officials said they feared that the incoming Trump administration was trying to determine what programs were focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, though the memo did not refer to them.”

The Washington Post‘s Josh Rogin reports this latest demand is “setting off alarm bells among those who fear that the new administration is going to purge programs that promote women’s equality along with the people who work on them.”

Last week the Trump transition team requested a list of names from the Dept. of Energy on those working on climate change. The transition team later claimed the request had not been properly authorized. The Dept. of Energy refused the request.

Wednesday’s request, according to the Post, was for information on all programs and activities that “promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting women’s participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc.” It came via a morning email with a 5 PM deadline.

“It’s not clear to us what the intent is behind this request,” a senior State Dept. official told the Post. “The Trump team could be looking to advance gender issues and make it a priority — or you could look at it as a witch hunt.”

“These types of requests send a cold chill through the Department and career diplomats dedicated to their work and service to the country,” a different State Department official said. “It’s devastating to morale.”

Rogin offers this conclusion: “The fact that the Trump staffers are rushing to figure out what resources are being spent on women’s issues is likely a sign that they plan to reduce funding and attention to these programs. That could affect not only the State Department personnel who work on those issues, but also millions of women and girls around the world.”