The executive branch of the U.S. intelligence community, which encompasses agencies like the CIA and key military intelligence entities, recently distributed a newsletter emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Within this internal publication, known as The Dive, various progressive initiatives were highlighted, and it was disseminated across the U.S. intelligence community by the Intelligence Community Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Office, which operates within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
The theme of the newsletter revolved around “the importance of words,” aiming to explore ways in which spy agencies could enhance inclusivity. The unnamed editor-in-chief of the newsletter stated, “This issue of The Dive highlights some … initiatives to improve the accuracy of the language we use on other topics; these are a sampling and are not comprehensive of all the great work being done across our agencies.”
The newsletter covered broader topics of inclusivity, including gender identity, advancements in accessibility, and diversity in leadership.
The newsletter contained six articles, touching upon various aspects of language and inclusivity within intelligence work. These included discussions on counterterrorism terminology, linguistic diversity, reframing discussions about Africa, gender expression within the intelligence community, accessibility in combat zones, and an event spotlighting African American and Hispanic leadership.
One article addressed the need to refine language used in intelligence presentations to avoid conflating Islamic beliefs with terrorism, which was deemed offensive and alienating to Muslim-American colleagues. Another article highlighted efforts to develop new language guidelines for discussing the People’s Republic of China.
Moreover, the newsletter advocated for the removal of biased language, exemplified by a chart suggesting alternatives to terms like “blacklisted” and “sanity check” to promote more inclusive communication.
A notable article featured an anonymous intelligence officer discussing their experiences as a cross-dresser, suggesting that it had enhanced their critical thinking and perspective-taking skills. The officer expressed challenges in understanding gender diversity but underscored the importance of recognizing gender as part of overall identity.
In response to inquiries, the ODNI affirmed its commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the intelligence community through initiatives like The Dive. However, some, such as Senator Tom Cotton and Jeremy Hunt, expressed concerns about prioritizing DEI initiatives over national security objectives.
The document, obtained through a public information request and subsequently redacted for privacy reasons, drew criticism from those who viewed it as diverting attention from core intelligence tasks.