MATT GAETZ WASHINGTON orrIca

1ST Dlsm?cn FLOHIM 507 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

{202} 225-4136
COMMITTEE ON ARMED se FIVICES 226 $13,235?,
COMMWOWEBWGH Qtungress of the 011110211 ?tates 

{350} 479-1183

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIAFIY 3901153 of 
Wilmington, EEC 20515?0901

http?gletahousmgov

February 1, 2017

The Honorable James Mattis
US. Department of Defense
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1400

Re: Memorandum on Federal Hiring Freeze
Dear Secretary Mattis,

I write you to express my concern regarding the Presidential Memorandum on the federal hiring freeze
issued on January 23, 2017. I support the President?s intention to reduce the size of the federal government,
however there have been substantial negative effects and misinterpretations.

As the Memorandum currently reads ?The head of any executive department or agency may exempt from
the hiring freeze any positions that it deems necessary to meet national security or public safety
responsibilities. In addition, the Director of the Of?ce of Personnel Management (0PM) may grant
exemptions from this freeze where those exemptions are otherwise necessary.?

Within the First District of Florida, our four major military installations could see freezes of hundreds of
open civil service billets that are directly affected by this Memorandum. Equally troubling is that the various
departments are now interpreting the Memorandum to include federal civilians in the midst of transfer
within the government or employment renewals. It is my grave concern that these interpretations could
negatively impact the military missions conducted at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field,
and Eglin Air Force Base.

1 would like to request clari?cation that for the civil service employees that were in transition between
positions within the federal government, going through employment renewal and in positions essential to
the security of the country be permitted to ?nalize the transition. Also, departments that have openings and
need to hire to fully staff and ful?ll their mission should be permitted to ?nalize the hiring process. Should
you have any questions or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me at 202-225-4136.

Sincerely,
Matt Gaetz
Member of Congress

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER