President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order establishing new procedures for federal hiring, aimed at maintaining and expanding reductions in the size of the federal workforce. The order follows previous initiatives that, according to the administration, have resulted in a ratio of four federal employee departures for every new hire since February 2025.
The new order stipulates that vacant federal civilian positions cannot be filled, nor new positions created, unless permitted by the order or required by law. This applies to all executive departments and agencies, regardless of funding sources, except for specific exceptions outlined in the order.
"Any Federal hiring shall be consistent with the Merit Hiring Plan issued by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on May 29, 2025, pursuant to Executive Order 14170 of January 20, 2025 (Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service)," the order states.
Each agency head is required to set up a Strategic Hiring Committee within 30 days. These committees, composed of senior officials, will approve any creation or filling of vacancies and ensure hiring aligns with national interests and administration priorities. Agencies must notify OPM in writing of approved hires.
Agencies are also mandated to prepare Annual Staffing Plans within 60 days, in coordination with OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These plans are intended to focus hiring on areas of highest need and administrative priorities, improve efficiency, eliminate unnecessary functions, reduce low-value contractor positions, and prioritize national security and public safety roles. Quarterly updates will be submitted to OPM and OMB, beginning with the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Exceptions to these policies include positions within the Executive Office of the President, non-career roles requiring presidential appointment or Senate confirmation, certain senior and excepted service positions, military personnel, and roles related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety. The Director of OPM may also grant exemptions, and existing exemptions will remain in effect unless withdrawn.
Within 180 days, the Directors of OMB and OPM must provide a joint report to the President assessing the implementation of the order and recommending any modifications.
The order prohibits agencies from using outside contracting to circumvent its provisions and states that it should not impact Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ benefits. It also clarifies that the order does not create enforceable legal rights for any party.
"Contracting outside the Federal Government to circumvent the intent of this order is prohibited," the order specifies.
President Trump signed the order at the White House on October 15, 2025.
