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President Donald Trump extended the federal hiring freeze on Thursday as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to reform the federal workforce and reduce government spending.
The decision builds on Trump’s commitment to streamlining the federal government’s size and scope while enhancing accountability and efficiency.
“In the last two years of the Biden Administration, government was directly responsible for the creation of more than 1 in every 4 jobs,” a White House Fact Sheet stated.
“President Trump is committed to reversing this trend by prioritizing private-sector job growth and reducing the federal workforce to focus on essential functions,” it continued.
The initial hiring freeze was announced in early 2025, pausing new civilian hires across federal agencies. This latest extension, authorized through a presidential memorandum, aims to reinforce the administration’s goals of curbing bureaucratic growth and improving performance across federal departments.
The Trump administration has emphasized that this freeze is not about eliminating public service, but rather ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and that federal agencies are operating with maximum effectiveness.
While essential positions related to national security, public safety and emergency response remain exempt from the freeze, the administration is continuing its review of federal workforce structures and functions.
“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,” the order stated.
The Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget have been tasked with identifying inefficiencies, redundancies and outdated practices across the federal government. These efforts are designed to lead to long-term personnel reforms, including a shift toward performance-based evaluations and streamlined hiring practices.
According to the White House, this approach reflects the administration’s broader vision of empowering frontline managers and reducing reliance on outdated civil service systems that have contributed to bloated bureaucracies. The Trump administration has reiterated its belief that responsible governance includes ensuring the government does not grow faster than the economy or the needs of the American people.