By Erin Cieraszynski
November 3, 2020
As we head into 2021, the new presidential administration will need to tackle a variety of highly important issues and crises after inauguration in January. From COVID-19, systemic racism, climate change, and much more, helping Americans through this pandemic and with other global issues will require that the administration assemble a robust and diverse team of officials to carry out these needs. A presidential administration has the job of filling 4,000 appointed positions, of which many are located in the Department of State and Department of Defense. As these appointees implement important US policy decisions, it is essential they look like and represent the rest of the American public in terms of gender, race and diversity. In recent months, protests against police brutality and calls for climate action have spurred a new movement emphasizing diverse leadership in all industries. The new administration needs to commit to appointing more women to these powerful positions, especially in national security. According to the GEIA Women’s Leadership Index, women only made up 34.4% of decision makers in civil service positions as of 2017 in the United States. On a global scale, women only make up 29.7% of these positions while making up closer to 45% of the civil service. Since 2017, these numbers have increased slightly but not enough to count as significant progress. Inauguration in January presents the latest opportunity for the United States to take the lead in reaching gender parity, starting with the new administration’s appointment of more women leaders.
