If you’ve been refreshing USAJOBS lately and wondering why the search results look a little thin, you aren't imagining things. The short answer is yes. Technically, there is a federal hiring freeze active right now, but like everything in D.C., the "freeze" is more like a very complicated slush puppy.
It’s been a wild year for civil servants. Ever since January 20, 2025, when the current administration hit the ground running with an executive order, the landscape of federal employment has shifted under everyone’s feet. We’ve seen extensions, new "Strategic Hiring Committees," and a whole lot of confusion about who is actually allowed to sign an offer letter.
Honestly, the term "freeze" is almost a misnomer because while some doors are bolted shut, others—specifically in national security and immigration—are wide open.
The Current State of the Federal Hiring Freeze
Right now, as of early 2026, we are living under the rules of Executive Order 14356, titled "Ensuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring." This wasn't the first move, though. It actually extended a series of earlier memos that started the day the President took office.
Back in July 2025, a major extension pushed the freeze into the start of the 2026 fiscal year. Then, in October 2025, the White House doubled down. Instead of a temporary pause, they moved toward a permanent "efficiency" model. This means that for the average agency, for every four people who retire or leave, they are generally only allowed to hire one person back. It's a 4-to-1 ratio designed to shrink the government without mass layoffs (though those have been a whole different legal battle in the courts).
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But here’s the kicker: this doesn't apply to everyone. If you’re looking for work in ICE, Border Patrol, or the Department of Defense, you’re seeing the opposite of a freeze. For example, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced they added 12,000 officers in record time—a 120% increase in manpower.
Who is actually frozen?
Basically, if your job is in a "non-essential" or administrative role, you’re likely stuck in the backlog.
- The IRS: They’ve been under a pretty strict, almost indefinite freeze since the beginning of 2025.
- Department of Education: With the "Make America Skilled Again" (MASA) initiatives, a lot of traditional education roles are being consolidated or cut entirely.
- Diversity and Equity Offices: If the job description mentions DEI or "intersectionality," it’s safe to say those positions are not just frozen; they’re largely being eliminated.
- Administrative Support: General Schedule (GS) roles in HR, accounting, and general administration across most agencies are under heavy scrutiny.
Is there a freeze on federal hiring for "Essential" roles?
Not at all. In fact, if you’re a "Patriotic American" (a term you'll see a lot in current OPM memos) with a background in law enforcement or national security, you might be looking at the fastest hiring process in decades.
The administration has made it clear that "public safety" and "national interest" are the golden tickets. If a role falls into those categories, the agency head can skip a lot of the red tape. They still have to get approval from a Strategic Hiring Committee, but those approvals are moving fast for the right roles.
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Wait—what is a Strategic Hiring Committee?
This is a new layer of bureaucracy added in late 2025. Every agency had to set one up by November 17, 2025. It’s usually led by the deputy agency head and a chief of staff. They are the gatekeepers. If they don’t think a position is absolutely necessary for the "national interest," that vacancy stays vacant.
What about the "Merit Hiring Plan"?
If you are applying right now, the rules of the game have changed. It’s no longer just about having a degree. OPM (the Office of Personnel Management) issued a Merit Hiring Plan in May 2025 that shifted the focus toward skills-based hiring.
- No more degree requirements for many roles: They’ve eliminated the need for a college degree for many GS-5 to GS-9 positions if you can prove you have the skills.
- Rigorous Assessments: Expect "hard" tests. They want to see what you can actually do, not just what your resume says.
- The "Four Essay" Rule: This has been super controversial. For roles at GS-5 and above, candidates often have to answer four specific essay questions meant to gauge their "dedication to American ideals."
The goal here is to get the "time-to-hire" down to under 80 days. Historically, getting a federal job took six months to a year. Now, they want you in the door fast—if they want you at all.
Pay Raises and the 2026 Outlook
Despite the hiring restrictions, the people already inside the system just got a small bump. On January 11, 2026, a 1.0% across-the-board pay increase went into effect. It’s not much, and locality pay (the extra money you get for living in expensive cities like D.C. or San Francisco) stayed flat at 2025 levels.
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But if you’re a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), you're doing a bit better. Many of those roles saw an additional 2.8% increase, bringing their total 2026 raise to about 3.8%.
How to navigate the "Slushy" Freeze
If you're determined to get a government job in 2026, you have to be tactical. Applying blindly to 100 jobs on USAJOBS is a waste of time right now.
- Target the "Growth" Agencies: Focus on DHS, DOD, and Veterans Affairs (VA). These have the most exemptions from the 4-to-1 hiring ratio.
- Highlight Technical Skills: With the shift to AI and automation (a big part of the "DOGE" initiatives led by the Department of Government Efficiency), roles that focus on tech, cybersecurity, and data are more likely to be deemed "essential."
- Check the Annual Staffing Plans: Every agency had to submit a 2026 staffing plan to OPM by December 1, 2025. While these aren't always fully public, agency press releases often hint at where they are "reallocating" staff.
- Be Ready for the "Patriot" Vibe: The current tone of federal recruitment is very different. Tailor your application to show how you support "national sovereignty" and "efficiency."
Is there a freeze on federal hiring? Yes, for the vast majority of the "traditional" bureaucracy. But for the parts of the government the current administration wants to grow, it’s one of the busiest hiring seasons in years. It all depends on which side of the "essential" line your career falls on.
Your Next Steps
- Audit your resume: Remove any "fluff" and focus on hard, quantifiable skills that match the new Merit Hiring Plan.
- Set up specific alerts: Don't just search for "federal jobs." Set alerts for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, as these are the least likely to be affected by the freeze.
- Review the new OPM assessment samples: If you get an interview, the "four essay" requirement might be your biggest hurdle—start thinking about how you’d answer questions regarding "merit and competence" in a public service context.