Massachusetts Governor Imposes Hiring Freeze Amid Economic Uncertainty
In a move to manage economic challenges, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has implemented a hiring freeze across the state’s executive branch. Announced on Wednesday, the freeze is a response to "widespread economic uncertainty" and a tightening budget outlook, according to Healey’s office. It will take effect on May 27 and remain in place until lawmakers pass a new budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
During a visit to the grand opening of Lego’s new offices in Boston, Healey assured the public there would be no decline in essential services. “My commitment is to make sure [services] don’t drop off,” she said, emphasizing that public safety and direct care positions are exempt from the freeze. She expressed confidence in her team’s ability to adapt to the situation, urging them to rise to the challenge.
The hiring freeze prohibits agencies like the Department of Transportation, Correction, and Health and Human Services from onboarding new staff, with no waiver process available. The budget heavily relies on $16 billion in federal support, and Healey noted that the state cannot cover potential shortfalls on its own.
Although Healey indicated that job cuts were not anticipated, she acknowledged the need for vigilance. “We’ve just got to take it as it comes,” she stated, while emphasizing the adverse effects of cuts proposed by the Trump administration.
In a related effort, Healey has reached out to Congressional leaders regarding planned GOP cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which could impact approximately one million residents, costing the state $710 million annually. "We’re talking seniors, single moms, and children," she remarked, highlighting the potential consequences for the state’s most vulnerable populations.
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