White House Directs Federal Workforce Review Amid Hiring Freeze

The White House has instructed federal agencies to submit by Friday a detailed list of employees on probationary status and recommendations on whether they should remain employed. This aligns with President Donald Trump’s commitment to reform the federal workforce and reduce regulatory efforts.

On Monday, Trump mandated federal employees return to the office five days a week and weakened civil servant job protections, aiming to streamline government operations. Probationary periods allow agencies to assess performance, noted Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell in a memo seen by Reuters. Employees with one to two years of service may be terminated without appeal, the memo emphasized.

In a separate directive, federal agencies were ordered to rescind most job offers for positions starting after February 8 due to a hiring freeze. Agencies were also told to halt new job postings and avoid creating new positions, with limited exceptions for roles in immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, military, and the U.S. Postal Service.

OPM may grant exemptions for critical areas such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. Agencies must report monthly on job offers, resignations, employee headcount, and job postings.

These measures are part of Trump’s broader strategy to reduce federal bureaucracy and enhance operational efficiency. The White House did not comment on the directives.

This development underscores the administration's focus on workforce performance and efficiency, impacting federal hiring and retention policies.