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MemoMemorandumTrump 45 · R

Presidential Memorandum

Hiring Freeze

This memorandum imposes an immediate freeze on hiring federal civilian employees across the executive branch, prohibiting filling vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017, and creating new positions, with limited exemptions for national security, public safety, and other necessary positions. It requires the OMB Director, in consultation with OPM, to recommend within 90 days a long-term plan to reduce the federal workforce through attrition, after which the freeze expires. The memorandum also prohibits using contractors to circumvent the freeze and exempts military personnel, political appointees, and certain other categories of hires.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 8493

Impact dates

  1. Hiring freeze expires upon implementation of OMB plan

  2. OMB Director recommends long-term plan to reduce federal workforce through attrition

Key directives

  • Freeze hiring of federal civilian employees across executive branch
  • No filling vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017
  • No creation of new positions
  • Agency heads may exempt positions for national security or public safety responsibilities
  • OPM Director may grant other necessary exemptions
  • OMB Director shall recommend long-term attrition-based workforce reduction plan within 90 days
  • Order expires upon implementation of OMB plan
  • Prohibit contracting outside government to circumvent freeze
  • Seek efficient use of existing personnel and funds
  • Permit reallocations to meet highest priority needs

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Hiring freeze takes effect immediately upon signing
  • No vacant positions as of January 22, 2017 at noon may be filled
  • No new positions may be created

Near term (90d)

  • OMB Director must recommend long-term workforce reduction plan through attrition

Long term

  • Freeze expires upon implementation of OMB plan
  • Potential lasting reduction in federal workforce size

Risks & tensions

  • Potential service disruptions if exemptions are too narrowly applied
  • Risk of increased contracting costs or quality issues due to circumvention prohibition
  • Attrition-only workforce reduction may create skills gaps and institutional knowledge loss
  • Tension between freeze mandate and maintaining essential public services
  • Unclear duration: freeze tied to implementation of future OMB plan with no fixed end date
Presidential Memorandum: Hiring Freeze · Executive Orders