President Trump Freezes Federal Civil Service Hiring (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 26, 2017 |
| Report Number |
FREEZE |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
On Monday, January 23, President Trump issued a memorandum that suspends the hiring of civilian employees in the
executive branch. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of
the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is instructed to recommend a plan within 90 days to reduce the size of the
federal workforce by way of attrition. The order will expire upon the actual implementation of the OMB plan, though
the memorandum does not specify a time frame for when such implementation must occur. On Wednesday, January 25,
OMB issued explanatory guidance to agencies on the implementation of the freeze. It stated that workers offered a job
on or before January 22, with a start date of February 22 or earlier, should enter their positions. However, those
individuals whose start date is after February 22, or undetermined, may have their job offer revoked. Agency heads are
given discretion whether to honor these offers.
