STRENGTHENING PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DIVERSITY IN US GOVERNMENT

Inclusive America (IA) is a nonprofit organization committed to making the government as diverse as the people of the United States. It advances its mission by tracking the demographic information of all political appointments, informing government hiring managers, developing diverse candidate rosters, and supporting policies that increase public sector diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). IA engaged a Capstone team to evaluate accountability mechanisms that encourage DEIA within US executive agencies and make recommendations to strengthen their impact, focusing particularly on the Government Accountability Office. The team conducted a literature review and interviewed various academics, audit practitioners, and government officials. Based on its research, the team devised recommendations that include updating criteria for DEIA reviews, prioritizing an intersectional approach, and elevating performance management for inclusion and equity. The team’s final report outlines an evidence-based strategy that civil society organizations like IA can use to advocate for implementation of the proposed improvements.