Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 18: In a sweeping move aimed at shrinking the size of the federal government, US President Donald Trump has extended the federal hiring freeze through July 15. The announcement was made by White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields via social media platform X.
The freeze, part of a broader agenda to trim federal spending and reduce bureaucracy, has been described by the White House as “a critical step in shrinking the federal government and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.”
The original freeze, first introduced by Trump in January 2017 during his initial term, prohibits the creation of new federal civilian positions or filling existing vacancies, except in roles deemed essential for national security, immigration enforcement, and public safety.
The memorandum, signed this week, reiterates Trump’s vow to “drain the swamp” and reshape the federal bureaucracy. “The American people elected President Trump to end ineffective government programs that empower government without achieving measurable results,” the White House stated.
After July 15, a stringent new rule will take effect, allowing agencies to hire just one employee for every four who leave. According to Trump officials, the move is designed to spur private-sector job growth by curbing what they describe as bloated public sector employment.
Further reinforcing his push for in-person work, President Trump had earlier directed federal employees to return to office, ending years of remote work policies. “We don’t want them to work from home... they’re not very productive,” he said in January, calling such arrangements unfair to those working on-site.
Elon Musk, who now heads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has played a major role in overseeing cuts across federal agencies. Under Musk’s leadership, the Department of Education has reportedly been reduced by 50%, and Health and Human Services by 24%. Other agencies, including the IRS, Department of Energy, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, have also seen workforce reductions.
Despite legal challenges, including a California court ruling ordering the reinstatement of 16,000 federal workers, the Supreme Court last week sided with the Trump administration by halting that decision, allowing the job cuts to continue pending further legal review.
The Trump administration maintains that such reforms are essential to revitalising the US government. “President Trump will usher in a Golden Age for America by reforming and improving the government bureaucracy to work for the American people,” the White House said.