I wanted to start a post here given the new EO…I have found this website to be exceptionally useful but also scattered with different updates and conflicting information.
To start, it seems like there is all different reporting with regards to the IC/NatSec being “exempt” from the hiring freeze; however, I have not yet seen any exceptions or FJO’s actually go out in the last 90 days. Can anyone confirm this? It’s a bit concerning grinding recruiting entirely to a halt given the insane time it takes to get cleared with a BI + FS Poly. Are we looking at like a 1+ year gap in the IC work force?
I want to focus this post specifically towards 3-letter IC (not DOD, DHS or FBI).
I have specifically heard from my recruiter that everything is at a standstill “my package is with management”. This seems to be an internal freeze due to possible reorganization and trying to achieve a certain headcount threshold but wanted to ping this thread and see what others are experiencing.
Thanks and apologize for some level of vagueness but think you all understand.
Edit: never mind, found it. Looks like it’s not really a change, just an extension of the one that already existed. So if you’re one of the exemptions (military, immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety) you’re still exempt. Presumably agency-specific freezes are still in place.
MD agency has completely frozen hiring. From what I’ve heard, people are still processing for clearances and are being adjudicated, but no one is being onboarded. Exemptions have been filed but they’ve been completely forgotten about or ignored. No jobs posted either since March.
Got my clearance adjudicated back in december by the big VA agency. Called hr about a month ago and was told that i was awaiting onboarding. Called again on thursday this week and was told that fhere was a freeze on hiring, and that they weren’t making exceptions even for NatSec positions, which my job would fall under.
This is very concerning. I am still scheduled to start on 21 April and didn’t receive any updates to the contrary but reading this makes me super anxious all over again. @RandomMan Have you heard anything?
If you have an EOD, you’ll probably be fine. I don’t have an FJO yet, and was told that i’m awaiting one from the onboarding team.
I’ve heard that in other federal agencies, there was a “pause” on hiring people already in the pipeline. Complete speculation, but if that is the same thing here, my guess is that i just barely missed the window where they were able to off one.
Sounds accurate. I got DOGED, applied for 11 USAJOBS positions. 3 sent email saying due to doge, position will not be filled, 4 came back saying “after the hiring freeze lifts…” And the others are pending. My thoughts were since it posted just a day or 3 ago…they were able to fill. But they may just be collecting resumes. On the DoD side (I worked IC ten years, DoD now) SecDef twice made clear if a position is critical, ask for the waiver…I think fear of raising their hand, and anticipating deeper cuts…prevents them from asking. Likely same on IC side believing they cannot hire. But yes it will create a gap as people retire or move on…the IC is so large it needs a steady stream entering the convoluted clearance process just to keep 30% flowing in.
I’m sorry you had to experience this. I’m hoping that, unlike other organizations, this particular one will be able to manage the cleared candidates pool effectively and bring them onboard when they can, instead of just shutting the door.
When they called me about the EOD date I was surprised it was exactly two weeks out with no other options, basically just enough time to resign from my current job. I know they typically allow some flexibility if people need more time. So now it sounds like they knew the freeze was coming and I got lucky making it into the last onboarding group.
I have talked to those in the recruiting space. Other than the DEI freeze when they temporarily postponed hiring processes, onboarding is still happening. Unless the EOD classes that I walk past are a figment of my imagination.
Reorg discussions are being had, internal job postings have basically been frozen, or at least no new ones are being posted. But AFAIK thats extremely temporary, and pipelines are still being built out. RUMINT is that they will get the certain % cut they need to hit through extended VERA, no new cuts are expected. Thats the hallway talk at least.
Nope, unless things have changed since late last week. I know for my role, new folks have been coming in to orientation regularly, and are scheduled to do so for the next several months. So unless certain positions are being allowed to process/onboard and others are being frozen, not sure what to make of it.
Thank you as always for your insight. I was out of town this week and only after seeing this thread I wondered what I had missed and if I should start panicking
Good comms man. This makes sense. Maybe folks with EODs are still being processed (if they didn’t get dropped…heard a lot of folks with COEs and FJOs were not onboarded). If you’re in the middle of the pipeline that’s where I think everything has essentially frozen.
Yeah exactly what’s your take on this? Are certain analysts or operations roles a go and then admin types of roles are basically on pause?
I wish I had more insight on the breakdown on this, it would be pure speculation on my part.
Maybe folks with EODs are still being processed (if they didn’t get dropped…heard a lot of folks with COEs and FJOs were not onboarded). If you’re in the middle of the pipeline that’s where I think everything has essentially frozen.
This is my current thought. I had heard conflicting info several weeks back where some people thought everything was back to normal, but others had heard of processing freezes. So if I had to guess, I would bet it’s exactly what you have said.
Current EOD’s are allowed on, they are temporarily pausing those in the process, meaning they are allowed to finish the step of processing they are in currently, but not being moved forward to the next step. Im thinking that by end of May, they will have evaluated the numbers after the dust has settled, and will continue to process once again based on mission priorities. Thats all just my personal guess, lots of confusion in the building right now. It’s honestly a clusterfuck.
Just gotta be patient, I dont think this agency likes to straight up cancel processing, like MD does.
I have also heard it’s a ■■■■ show there… truly hoping they get it sorted immediately.
Insane to mess with such an important mission set..cool with a reorg and great changes but don’t stunt your recruiting. Crazy to put on hold top talent..
