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Executive Order 14356
Ensuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring
Signed October 15, 2025, printed at 90 FR 48387. 4 sections of substance, 1,337 words.
This order keeps limits on federal hiring. It says the workforce has already shrunk a lot.
Sec. 1. Background
In just 8 months, my Administration has dramatically reduced the size of the Federal workforce, improving the efficient delivery of Government services while prioritizing hiring in national security, immigration enforcement, public safety, and other roles that further my Administration's priorities and benefit American taxpayers. The results of this approach have surpassed the ratio of four departures for each new hire set forth in Executive Order 14210 of February 11, 2025 (Implementing the President's ``Department of Government Efficiency'' Workforce Optimization Initiative). To protect and expand upon these historic improvements, and to ensure that the Federal Government is optimally staffed to meet critical mission needs and implement the agenda that the American people elected me to pursue, Federal hiring shall be subject to the following policies and procedures going forward.
In just 8 months, my Administration has dramatically reduced the size of the Federal workforce, improving the efficient delivery of Government services while prioritizing hiring in national security, immigration enforcement, public safety, and other roles that further my Administration's priorities and benefit American taxpayers. The results of this approach have surpassed the ratio of four departures for each new hire set forth in Executive Order 14210 of February 11, 2025 (Implementing the President's ``Department of Government Efficiency'' Workforce Optimization Initiative). To protect and expand upon these historic improvements, and to ensure that the Federal Government is optimally staffed to meet critical mission needs and implement the agenda that the American people elected me to pursue, Federal hiring shall be subject to the following policies and procedures going forward.
This states the case the order makes. It says the federal workforce shrank in 8 months. It says services still run well. It says hiring went to key roles. Security and immigration are named. So is public safety. A February order set a rule of one hire per four exits. It says the result beat that rule. New hiring rules follow.
Sec. 2. Policies and Procedures to Govern Federal Hiring
No Federal civilian position that is vacant may be filled, and no new position may be created, except as provided for in this order or required by applicable law. Except as set forth in section 3 of this order, this policy applies to all executive departments and agencies (agencies) regardless of their sources of operational or programmatic funding. (a) Compliance with the Merit Hiring Plan. 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). (b) Strategic Hiring Committees. Within 30 days of the date of this order, each agency head shall establish a Strategic Hiring Committee to approve the creation or
No Federal civilian position that is vacant may be filled, and no new position may be created, except as provided for in this order or required by applicable law. Except as set forth in section 3 of this order, this policy applies to all executive departments and agencies (agencies) regardless of their sources of operational or programmatic funding. (a) Compliance with the Merit Hiring Plan. 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). (b) Strategic Hiring Committees. Within 30 days of the date of this order, each agency head shall establish a Strategic Hiring Committee to approve the creation or
This freezes most hiring. No empty job may be filled. No new job may be created. Only this order or a law may allow it. All agencies are covered. Their funding source does not matter. Section 3 lists the exceptions. Hiring must follow a merit plan from May 2025. Each agency has 30 days to form a hiring committee.
Sec. 3. Exceptions
(a) This order does not apply to: (i) the Executive Office of the President or the components thereof; (ii) non-career positions requiring Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation; (iii) non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service; (iv) Schedule C or Schedule G positions in the excepted service; (v) military personnel of the Armed Forces; (vi) positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety; or (vii) appointment of officials through temporary organization hiring authority pursuant to section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. (b) This order does not limit or prohibit the appointment or hiring of any other non-career employees or officials if approved by an agency head appointed by the President or another official appointed by the President. (c) This order does not limit or prohibit any appointment or hiring specifically approved by
(a) This order does not apply to: (i) the Executive Office of the President or the components thereof; (ii) non-career positions requiring Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation; (iii) non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service; (iv) Schedule C or Schedule G positions in the excepted service; (v) military personnel of the Armed Forces; (vi) positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety; or (vii) appointment of officials through temporary organization hiring authority pursuant to section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. (b) This order does not limit or prohibit the appointment or hiring of any other non-career employees or officials if approved by an agency head appointed by the President or another official appointed by the President. (c) This order does not limit or prohibit any appointment or hiring specifically approved by
This lists the exceptions. The White House offices are left out. So are jobs the Senate must confirm. So are top jobs that change with a President. Two special hiring lists are left out. Troops are left out. So are jobs in border, security and safety work. So are short term hires under one law. Agency heads may approve others.
Sec. 4. Report
Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB and the Director of OPM shall submit a joint report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, regarding implementation of this order, including a recommendation as to whether any of its provisions should be modified or terminated.
Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB and the Director of OPM shall submit a joint report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, regarding implementation of this order, including a recommendation as to whether any of its provisions should be modified or terminated.
This asks for a report. Two offices have 180 days. One is the budget office. One is the personnel office. They must file it jointly. It goes to the President. A domestic policy aide passes it on. It must cover how the order is working. It must also say whether any part should change or end.
Sec. 5. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) Contracting outside the Federal Government to circumvent the intent of this order is prohibited. (d) This order does not prohibit making reallocations or reassignments to meet the highest priority needs; maintain essential services; and protect national security, homeland security, and public safety. [[Page 48389]] (e) This order shall not adversely impact the provision of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans' benefits. (f) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) Contracting outside the Federal Government to circumvent the intent of this order is prohibited. (d) This order does not prohibit making reallocations or reassignments to meet the highest priority needs; maintain essential services; and protect national security, homeland security, and public safety. [[Page 48389]] (e) This order shall not adversely impact the provision of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans' benefits. (f) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
How this order is quoted
Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.