The memorandum, issued by the President, orders a freeze on hiring federal civilian employees across the executive branch, effective January 20, 2025. It exempts positions related to military personnel, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, and areas like Social Security and Medicare services. The Office of Personnel Management is allowed to grant exceptions when necessary. The order includes plans to develop strategies for workforce reduction and efficiency within 90 days, and prohibits using outside contracts to bypass the hiring freeze.
Simple Explanation
The President made a rule that says most new people can’t be hired to work for the government right now, but some important jobs, like those that help keep the country safe, can still hire people. If they really need more workers, the special office that helps with hiring can say it’s okay to make an exception.