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Healey administration calls for hiring freeze amid federal funding concerns
The freeze will take effect May 27 and is aimed at managing the state’s finances as it finalizes the spending budget for the next fiscal year.
The Healey administration will freeze hiring at the state executive branch in response to federal funding worries, the administration announced Wednesday.
The freeze will take effect on May 27 and will manage the state’s finances as it is finalizing the spending budget for the next fiscal year, Governor Maura Healey‘s office said in a statement.
“The people of Massachusetts expect us to protect and maximize their tax dollars, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Healey said in the statement. “Tariffs and funding cuts from Washington are causing so much economic damage and instability. We are taking this step to prepare for more uncertain economic times, protect taxpayer dollars, and move our state forward while ensuring funding will be available for the vital services people need.”
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All agencies and departments will be affected by the measure and no new employees can be hired, according to the office. There will be no formal waiver process, though as in past freezes some exceptions will be made for certain positions.
The office also released a tracker of federal cuts to state programs, which have so far totaled more than $350 million. Massachusetts receives $22.9 billion in federal funding each year, which accounts for one third of the state’s spending, according to the tracker.
As of March 31, there are 45,770 full-time equivalent employees working at the executive branch, according to state data.
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The House’s Ways and Means committee finalized its $61.58 billion FY2026 budget April 31 after three days of debate, adding $81.9 million in spending and taking action on 1,650 amendments.
The Senate released its budget May 6; it is about $151 million less than the House budget. Even so, both budgets are double the growth rate of last year’s budget because of its response to federal funding cuts.
The administration will reevaluate the effectiveness of the hiring freeze once the General Appropriations Act for next year is signed and implemented, according to the statement.
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