In a memo issued last Thursday by President Donald Trump extended the employment freeze of all federal civilian positions. The additional time extends the already in place hiring freeze for an additional 89 days.

The order creates an order for federal employees banning the hiring of civilian employees at federal agencies for either vacancies or new positions, as The Daily Wire reported.

The initial executive order was intended to remain in effect until April 20, but it has been extended until July 15.

The executive order clarified, "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."

Hiring Freeze

A temporary freeze of hiring until the Trump administration is fully in place.

Additionally, “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 and the Administrator… pic.twitter.com/PgrLMxea2D

— Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 21, 2025

"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.

The memo also stated that it does not affect the Department of Government Efficiency agency workforce reduction deadlines.

The hiring moratorium at the IRS remains indefinite, as the president has reiterated.

It would be necessary for the Treasury secretary, Office of Management and Budget director, and DOGE administrator to ascertain that it is in the "national interest" to lift the hiring moratorium.

Exceptions

The extension maintains exceptions for agencies that are involved in national security, immigration, or law enforcement functions, and it reiterates the language in the initial hiring moratorium that was intended to safeguard the "provision of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans' benefits."

The Defense Department is currently operating under its own employment freeze, which was implemented last month by Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite the exemption.

The executive Order states: "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."

Other agencies

Whistleblowers have claimed that Frank Bisignano, who is currently awaiting Senate confirmation to lead the Social Security Administration, has directed officials to personally review any new hires. The agency is already at a 50-year staffing low and is planning to reduce its 57,000-member workforce by 7,000 this fiscal year.

Political appointees hired through Schedule A or C of the excepted service, as well as any other non-career senior executives, are also exempt from the hiring moratorium.

Last week, the Office of Personnel Management released new guidance that encourages agencies to increase the pay for Schedule C hires, up to and including the federal pay limit of $195,200, and to exclude career HR officials from the onboarding process.