April 17, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Extension of Hiring Freeze
By the authority granted to me as President under the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby announce the prolongation of the freeze on hiring Federal civilian employees within the executive branch until July 15, 2025. This decision follows the initial directive set in the Presidential Memorandum dated January 20, 2025 (Hiring Freeze). Consequently, no currently vacant Federal civilian positions may be filled, nor can new positions be established unless explicitly stated in this memorandum or mandated by relevant laws. Furthermore, any hiring must align with the merit hiring plan once adopted in accordance with Executive Order 14170 of January 20, 2025 (Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service).
With the exceptions outlined below, this hiring freeze applies uniformly across all executive departments and agencies, irrespective of their funding sources. It is important to note that this memorandum does not alter the timeline for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide a strategy aimed at reducing the Federal workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition, as stipulated in Executive Order 14210 of February 11, 2025 (Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative).
This memorandum exempts military personnel, positions tied to immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety roles, as well as the Executive Office of the President and its components. Positions within these categories will not necessitate a review by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Additionally, the provisions of this memorandum will not hamper the delivery of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ benefits. The Director of OPM retains the authority to grant exemptions from this freeze where deemed necessary, and any exemptions previously issued will remain valid unless retracted by OPM.
Contracting outside the Federal Government to bypass the intent of this memorandum is strictly prohibited.
In implementing this memorandum, agency heads are instructed to optimize the utilization of existing personnel and resources to enhance public services and their delivery. Thus, this memorandum does not impede reallocations or reassignments aimed at fulfilling critical needs, maintaining essential services, or safeguarding national and homeland security, as well as public safety.
This memorandum does not limit the nomination and appointment of officials to positions that require Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation, nor does it restrict the appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule A or C positions in the Excepted Service. It also does not hinder the appointment of officials through temporary hiring authority as per section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, or any other non-career employees or officials if sanctioned by a Presidential appointee. Furthermore, it does not impose hiring restrictions where such limitations would conflict with applicable laws.
This memorandum shall remain effective 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, concludes that it is in the national interest to lift the freeze and publishes a notice of such determination in the Federal Register.
This memorandum does not invalidate any collective bargaining agreements in place as of the date of this memorandum.
DONALD J. TRUMP
