The Washington Times, March 30, 1997:

The National Park Service has been forced to suspend all hiring of seasonal workers for the summer—not for lack of money or resources, but because the Interior Department is concerned about the workers' diversity.

A March 4 memo to all Park Service regional directors said the Interior Department asked for a breakdown on prospective summer hires "because concern has been expressed about the diversity composition of our seasonal work force."

"Therefore, effective immediately, no hiring for seasonal positions (including rehires) may be done for the 1997 summer season until the information requested by the department has been received ... and reviewed by the department," the memo said.

"Park officials throughout the country have been ordered to compile data on the "race/national origin and gender composition" of all applicants. In addition, they are required to submit a description of their seasonal recruiting program, "including efforts to achieve diversity in the candidates."

[Ed.: A form distributed to all Interior Department employees adds: "Your furnishing [racial] information is voluntary. Your failure to do so will have no effect on you or your federal employment. If you fail to provide the information, however, then the employing agency will attempt to identify your race and national origin by visual perception."]

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