Federal Manager's Daily Report

OPM has issued further guidance on the Trump administration’s general hiring freeze, addressing some less common situations not addressed in previous memos.

It says that: the exception for members of the uniformed services applies, along with DoD, to other agencies with uniformed personnel, such as the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service; agencies have discretion to determine whether cybersecurity positions fall under the national security or public safety exemptions from the freeze; and that ALJ positions are not automatically exempt but may fall under one of those exemptions.

Also: agencies can use the Intergovernmental Personnel Act to accept individuals on detail assignments from non-federal entities but cannot use that law to hire them unless the position is otherwise exempt; agencies may use volunteers, such as students pursuing educational goals, if otherwise permitted by law;

Also: agencies still may accept interns under an agreement with a third party internship provider such as an association of universities; they still may hire a reader, interpreter, or personal assistant when necessary to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability; but they may not rehire retired federal employees unless the position is otherwise exempted.

Further, in deciding whether to honor or cancel job offers made before January 22 but with a starting date of February 22 or after, or indefinite, agencies “should consider merit system principles, essential mission priorities, and current agency resources and funding levels.”