The Dec. 2 shootings by Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik had illustrated the United States’ vulnerability to terrorist attacks inspired by the Islamic State and ignited a heated debate over the role of Muslims here. Presidential contender Donald Trump’s subsequent call to ban Muslims from entering the country had offended many Americans but resonated with others.

In a seventh-floor conference room at the CIA’s fortresslike Virginia headquarters, the agency’s No. 2 official, David S. Cohen, wanted to push back against anti-Muslim discourse. Speaking to several dozen employees, Cohen had a simple message, those present said, about attempts to marginalize Muslim employees: “zero tolerance.”

For agency leaders, telegraphing their support for the CIA’s small cadre of Muslim employees was crucial, not out of altruism but because they see their presence as “mission critical.” Having a workforce linked to many parts of the world where the CIA operates, they say, enables the spy agency to understand the thinking of foreign adversaries.

[At CIA, a convert to Islam leads the terrorist hunt]

The debate over America’s religious diversity has only intensified after the June 12 shooting in Orlando, another attack by an apparent supporter of the Islamic State.

In an effort to increase awareness about Muslims who take part in sensitive national security work, the agency permitted nearly a dozen employees to speak with a Washington Post reporter on the condition that they be identified in accordance with agency restrictions.

The uncommon decision to introduce current employees, including multiple undercover officers, to the media reflects the pressure the agency faces to show that it is becoming more diverse. A 2015 studycommissioned by the agency found that racial and ethnic minorities, who account for 23.9 percent of the CIA workforce, are underrepresented at senior levels and that diversity is not a priority for agency executives.

The study did not specifically address the presence of Muslims on agency payrolls. While the CIA says it does not keep statistics on religion, officials acknowledge that Muslims represent a tiny percentage of the workforce.

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