And it’s not going over well with the government workers union.
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Monday ordered an across-the-board employment freeze for the federal government, halting hiring for all new and existing positions except those in national security, public safety and the military.
In the two-page order, Mr. Trump said the directive is a stopgap way to control the growth of government until his budget director recommends a long-term plan to significantly reduce the federal work force through attrition.
“In carrying out this memorandum, I ask that you seek efficient use of existing personnel and funds to improve public services and the delivery of these services,” Mr. Trump wrote in the memorandum, one of his first acts as president. “Accordingly, this memorandum does not prohibit making reallocations to meet the highest priority needs and to ensure that essential services are not interrupted and national security is not affected.”
The largest public employees union blasted the president’s action, saying it will force federal agencies to rely on more expensive contractors to deliver the services that Americans have come to expect from the government.
“This hiring freeze will mean longer lines at Social Security offices, fewer workplace safety inspections, less oversight of environmental polluters and greater risk to our nation’s food supply and clean water systems,” said J. David Cox Sr., the president of the group, the American Federation of Government Employees.
Mr. Trump’s memorandum addressed that point directly by saying that “contracting outside the government to circumvent the intent of this memorandum shall not be permitted.”
On one hand, I think it’s great that Donald Trump is trying to cut spending by doing this and slowing down the growth of government. On the other hand, I think that it’s going to cost some minor inconveniences and force people who do rely on the government for their services. This could cause problems in various areas, such as enforcement at the Federal Communications Commission. Enforcement of the Department of Transportation, namely the weigh scales. Things like that, it’s going to cause problems in the short-term. But, it’ll save a lot of money in the long term. I can see both sides of it and I can see the desire of those who want to see spending slashed; but I also can see the other side of it as well. So, it’s a double-edged sword.
Honestly, if I think Donald Trump wants to see our nation’s standing in the world. He ought to get to work to renegotiating NAFTA and TAFTA and all the other trade agreements and if those who were going to go negotiate with won’t accept our terms, we simply walk away and impose strict tariffs on those who want to import goods and or country. That will help replenish this country’s monetary supply; not doing what he’s doing now. That’s a short-term solution, but the long-term is to increase the revenue into this country. That will only occur if we begin to charge those who want to import their goods into this country.