Murphy aims to increase diversity in state offices with new executive order

Last week, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) signed Executive Order 319, creating the Equity and Sustainability Advisory Council and requiring each state cabinet department to have a Chief Diversity Officer who will report to the council, according to a press release.

The new council will be responsible for creating statewide policy on equity in state government offices and have the power to request information from different departments to ensure they comply with Murphy's executive order.

"Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is essential to the success of any organization, especially that of our state workforce, which serves the residents of the most diverse state in the nation," Murphy said in the release.

He said this order is part of his administration's effort to have state employees reflect the diversity of the state they serve.