Exploring Intersectional Diversity: Representation of Gender, Ethnicity, and Disability in the US Federal Government

This study explores the current status of intersectional diversity in the United States (U.S.) federal government over a decade (2009–2023). Significant efforts have been made to enhance representation in bureaucracy, ensuring it reflects society’s preferences in policymaking and embodies a wide range of values related to public services. Scholars have also examined various dimensions of representative bureaucracy through an intersectional lens, with a particular focus on the interplay of gender and ethnicity in shaping our understanding of diversity. However, substantial inequality persists among women based on their racial and ethnic backgrounds, especially at the leadership level. We expand this critical discussion by incorporating another essential, yet less frequently addressed, aspect of diversity: disability. Using FedScope data along with additional data from the OPM, we measured representation and intersectionality across gender, ethnicity, and disability at both employee and leadership levels. Our findings show that although passive representation has improved across some individual dimensions, minorities continue to face underrepresentation at the leadership level. Furthermore, minorities with intersectional identities encounter even greater disparities.