Published on April 17, 2025
This presidential memorandum extends a federal civilian hiring freeze through July 15, 2025, prohibiting the filling of vacant positions and creation of new positions across executive departments and agencies, with specific exemptions for military, national security, public safety, and certain executive positions. The freeze includes provisions to prevent circumvention through external contracting while maintaining essential services and allowing for personnel reallocation to meet priority needs.
While presented as a measure for government efficiency, this action appears designed to weaken federal agencies' operational capacity while consolidating power within the executive branch. The broad exemptions for presidential appointees, non-career positions, and the Executive Office of the President, coupled with the authority to make "reallocations" for "highest priority needs," suggests a strategy to replace career civil servants with political appointees. The vague language regarding "merit hiring plans" and exemptions granted by OPM creates opportunities for selective enforcement that could favor political allies while undermining institutional expertise.
Though framed as a cost-saving measure to optimize government efficiency, this hiring freeze appears structured to systematically reduce the influence of career civil servants while expanding political control over federal agencies. The public should be particularly attentive to how the numerous exemptions and reallocation provisions are implemented, as these could fundamentally alter the balance between professional expertise and political influence in government operations.
April 17, 2025 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Extension of Hiring Freeze By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby extend through July 15, 2025, the freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees within the executive branch, as initially directed in the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 (Hiring Freeze). No Federal civilian position that is presently vacant may be filled, and no new position may be created, except as otherwise provided for in this memorandum or required by applicable law. In addition, once a merit hiring plan has been adopted pursuant to Executive Order 14170 of January 20, 2025 (Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service), any hiring shall be consistent with that plan. Except as provided below, this freeze continues to apply to all executive departments and agencies (agencies) regardless of their sources of operational and programmatic funding. This memorandum does not affect the deadline for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit a plan for reducing the size of the Federal Government’s workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition, as provided in Executive Order 14210 of February 11, 2025 (Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative). This memorandum does not apply to military personnel of the Armed Forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety, and does not apply to the Executive Office of the President or the components thereof. Positions that fall within these categories do not require review by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Moreover, nothing in this memorandum shall adversely impact the provision of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ benefits. In addition, the Director of OPM may continue to grant exemptions from this freeze where those exemptions are otherwise necessary. Exemptions previously granted by OPM shall remain in effect unless withdrawn by OPM. Contracting outside the Federal Government to circumvent the intent of this memorandum is prohibited. In carrying out this memorandum, the heads of agencies shall seek efficient use of existing personnel and funds to improve public services and the delivery of those services. Accordingly, this memorandum does not prohibit making reallocations or reassignments to meet the highest priority needs; maintain essential services; and protect national security, homeland security, and public safety. This memorandum does not restrict the nomination and appointment of officials to positions requiring Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation; the appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule A or C positions in the Excepted Service; the appointment of officials through temporary organization hiring authority pursuant to section 3161 of title 5, United States Code; or the appointment of any other non-career employees or officials if approved by the head of an agency appointed by the President. Moreover, it does not limit the hiring of personnel where such a limit would conflict with applicable law. This memorandum shall remain in effect for the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Director of OMB and the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service, determines that it is in the national interest to terminate the freeze and publishes notice of such determination in the Federal Register. This memorandum does not abrogate any collective bargaining agreement in effect on the date of this memorandum. DONALD J. TRUMP