(Reuters)True to his campaign promise, President Trump ordered a federal hiring freeze on Monday. [Trump halts hiring of many federal workers]What does this mean for federal employees? [Trump brings fear, anxiety and some hope to federal workforce]Why did he freeze federal hiring? American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox Sr. said, “President Trump’s federal hiring freeze will result in more government waste as agencies are forced to hire high-priced contractors to do the work that federal employees can and should be doing.”Has federal employment grown over the years? Spicer cited a “dramatic expansion of the federal workforce in recent years.” While the absolute number of federal employees has increased, there are fewer federal staffers now compared with the size of the population they serve.

Source: Washington Post January 23, 2017 20:27 UTC