Fed Hiring Freeze

[Anonymous]

DHS is hiring...

[Anonymous]

At my agency we just asked for and received exemptions for nearly everything, even though it's a huge stretch to think of us as public health or safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my agency we just asked for and received exemptions for nearly everything, even though it's a huge stretch to think of us as public health or safety.

Which agency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my agency we just asked for and received exemptions for nearly everything, even though it's a huge stretch to think of us as public health or safety.

do you mind sharing what agency?? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Any more updates from people with tentative offers before the freeze?

The agency I received TO from says they've made appeals up the organizational chain, but they still haven't received any specific guidance. It is starting to look to me like I won't get onboard until after the freeze is lifted. Which maybe isn't that bad since its only about 2.5 pay periods away.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't count on the freeze being lifted fully. The EO just says that OMB in consultation with OPM has 90 days to offer a plan to reduce the size of federal workforce and that the EO will expire upon implementation of the plan. Recommending a plan and implementing a plan are two very different things. Look for the freeze to last a lot longer than 90 days. Not that there aren't a ton of loop holes in the freeze, but don't look at 90 days as some magic date to re-open hiring unfettered.

"Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of OPM, shall recommend a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition. This order shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan."

[Anonymous]

If anyone hears from DOJ can you share the update

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't count on the freeze being lifted fully. The EO just says that OMB in consultation with OPM has 90 days to offer a plan to reduce the size of federal workforce and that the EO will expire upon implementation of the plan. Recommending a plan and implementing a plan are two very different things. Look for the freeze to last a lot longer than 90 days. Not that there aren't a ton of loop holes in the freeze, but don't look at 90 days as some magic date to re-open hiring unfettered.

"Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of OPM, shall recommend a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition. This order shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan."

Yes, but remember, "through attrition" is government talk for buyouts. This happens with every change of POTUS. The incoming administration wants to trim down the highest paid civil servants as much as possible and the best way to do this is to encourage higher paid retirement-eligible civil servants to retire. A buyout is a lot cheaper than having them work even another year because not only do you save on their salary, you stop them increasing their high-3 (or high-5 now), which means it stabilizes the annual amount of their retirement payment. It's up to OPM/OMB to decide what guidelines or mandates they are going to give each agency in how to process the buyouts. Sometimes they micromanage who gets initial offers, how how much to offer, when to offer, etc. Other times they give more general guidelines or target % and let each agency sort it out. That's what going on right now, trying to figure out the details. Additionally, the career staffs at OMB and OPM handle this, so it isn't even waiting for political appointees to figure out what to do. But it isn't that hard a process, so it shouldn't take that long to sort out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't count on the freeze being lifted fully. The EO just says that OMB in consultation with OPM has 90 days to offer a plan to reduce the size of federal workforce and that the EO will expire upon implementation of the plan. Recommending a plan and implementing a plan are two very different things. Look for the freeze to last a lot longer than 90 days. Not that there aren't a ton of loop holes in the freeze, but don't look at 90 days as some magic date to re-open hiring unfettered.

"Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of OPM, shall recommend a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition. This order shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan."

That is a good point -- and one that I missed. Bummer. I'm currently employed, so I can wait this out. But the uncertainty is wearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't count on the freeze being lifted fully. The EO just says that OMB in consultation with OPM has 90 days to offer a plan to reduce the size of federal workforce and that the EO will expire upon implementation of the plan. Recommending a plan and implementing a plan are two very different things. Look for the freeze to last a lot longer than 90 days. Not that there aren't a ton of loop holes in the freeze, but don't look at 90 days as some magic date to re-open hiring unfettered.

"Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of OPM, shall recommend a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition. This order shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan."

You've found loopholes? We can't seem to find any. No contractors, no details, people just keep leaving and we can't replace them. Then their work gets dumped on others who get frustrated by the workload and they leave too. I wonder if agencies are implementing differently.

[Anonymous]

So NO ONE has been on boarded yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't count on the freeze being lifted fully. The EO just says that OMB in consultation with OPM has 90 days to offer a plan to reduce the size of federal workforce and that the EO will expire upon implementation of the plan. Recommending a plan and implementing a plan are two very different things. Look for the freeze to last a lot longer than 90 days. Not that there aren't a ton of loop holes in the freeze, but don't look at 90 days as some magic date to re-open hiring unfettered.

"Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Director of OPM, shall recommend a long-term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce through attrition. This order shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan."

Yes, but remember, "through attrition" is government talk for buyouts. This happens with every change of POTUS. The incoming administration wants to trim down the highest paid civil servants as much as possible and the best way to do this is to encourage higher paid retirement-eligible civil servants to retire. A buyout is a lot cheaper than having them work even another year because not only do you save on their salary, you stop them increasing their high-3 (or high-5 now), which means it stabilizes the annual amount of their retirement payment. It's up to OPM/OMB to decide what guidelines or mandates they are going to give each agency in how to process the buyouts. Sometimes they micromanage who gets initial offers, how how much to offer, when to offer, etc. Other times they give more general guidelines or target % and let each agency sort it out. That's what going on right now, trying to figure out the details. Additionally, the career staffs at OMB and OPM handle this, so it isn't even waiting for political appointees to figure out what to do. But it isn't that hard a process, so it shouldn't take that long to sort out.

High 5 has been talked about for a while, but it hasn't actually been implemented at this point. And it is not clear if it would apply to everyone, only new hires, or only people X years from retirement- if it happens at all.

[Anonymous]

Any news or change on hiring freeze?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have been told by supervisors that my agency (health related) applied for exemptions for those with start dates after Feb 22 and supervisors were recently told by HR that exemptions will not go through. Sounds like HR or guidance they are being provided by administration does not involve a loose definition to the exemptions. Supervisors a little surprised given our work scope. Good luck to all those in limbo.

Is this NIH?

At NIH. I can confirm this happened

[Anonymous]

DHS is moving forward with hires for certain series.