Memo warns against outside contracting to circumvent the intent of the memo. Image: White House Handout/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
By: FEDweek StaffPresident Trump’s memo imposing a general federal hiring freeze additionally requires production of a plan within 90 days of “a plan to reduce the size of the federal government’s workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition.
On production of that plan by OMB and by a realigned office within GSA that is to coordinate on carrying out recommendations of the “department of government efficiency” commission, the hiring freeze is to be lifted except at the IRS until the Treasury—along with those two entities—”determines that it is in the national interest to lift the freeze.”
Like the similar memo that Trump issued at the outset of his first administration—when the freeze also expired after several months—it generally bars filling positions that were vacant as of the inauguration on Monday. However, it allows for filling politically appointive positions and “does not prohibit making reallocations to meet the highest priority needs, maintain essential services, and protect national security, homeland security, and public safety” of career employees.
It further allows for numerous exceptions including “positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety. Moreover, nothing in this memorandum shall adversely impact the provision of Social Security, Medicare, or Veterans’ benefits. In addition, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may grant exemptions from this freeze where those exemptions are otherwise necessary.”
“Contracting outside the federal government to circumvent the intent of this memorandum is prohibited,” it adds.
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