The State Department has awarded a $978,750 contract to Military Hire, a subsidiary of RedBalloon, to recruit new Foreign Service Officers. Foreign Service Officers are senior diplomats who represent the United States abroad; their hiring has historically involved rigorous screening and a multi‑hour examination. In 2025 the Trump administration issued a memo directing the removal of DEI language from department policies and recalled 29 ambassadors and dismissed 246 Foreign Service Officers as part of a broader restructuring. Secretary Marco Rubio described the changes as aimed at eliminating a culture he said was dominated by "radical ideologues" whose agendas conflicted with the president's priorities. The new contract seeks to attract candidates who share the administration's values. RedBalloon CEO Andrew Crapuchettes said on the CrossPolitic podcast that previous recruiting had emphasized diversity and inclusion and that many former hires were reluctant to implement the administration's "America First" agenda. He said the department removed its recruiting staff and was "cleaning house" to bring in personnel more closely aligned with current leadership. Crapuchettes invited Christians to apply for Foreign Service positions, noting that officers could serve abroad in places such as Germany, Botswana or Thailand and build long‑term influence. He added that RedBalloon is pursuing similar contracts with the Department of War and the Department of the Interior and has a separate agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs for political‑appointee recruitment. RedBalloon's spokesperson Isaac Lopez said the company does not screen applicants based on political affiliation, religion or ideology, and that the remarks made on the podcast reflected only a personal hope that public‑service‑minded individuals of faith would consider federal careers. A State Department spokesperson later stated that the department is committed to recruiting the best and brightest from all backgrounds, without regard to political or religious affiliation, and noted that interest in the Foreign Service has risen sharply since the Trump administration. The contract marks a new phase in the department’s recruitment strategy, but it remains unclear how the focus on ideological alignment will affect the pool of applicants.