President Obama Issues Diversity Executive Order

President Obama on Thursday issued an executive order requiring government agencies to develop plans for improving federal workforce diversity.  The executive order directs a group of high-ranking officials to create a government-wide plan, followed by specific plans in each agency.

Whites hold more than 81 percent of senior pay-level positions.

The order creates a framework, but the details have not been worked out. Instead of creating a new administrative body. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will participate. They will be responsible for creating a government-wide plan within 90 days. The efforts must reflect initiatives on a number of fronts, including recruitment, training and promotion.

According to the latest Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program Report, women hold 31 percent of senior positions, African Americans 7 percent and Latinos 4 percent. (Wash Post, 8/19/2011)