As the state braces for the impact of federal funding cuts, state House leaders announced Wednesday that they are freezing hiring, citing “federal economic uncertainty” in Washington.
According to an email obtained by the Globe, House Human Resources director Katherine Palmer described the freeze as “temporary” and “proactive,” and said that it will not affect previously approved jobs or backfills for positions in offices where a state representative only has one aide.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Ronald Mariano confirmed the contents of the email.
President Trump has already withheld or cut billions of dollars in federal grants nationwide and other spending, and the recent slash to the Medicaid health insurance program could dramatically upend the state’s own spending plans.
The budget recently signed into law included $49.8 million operations budget for the House, marking a 4.8 percent increase from the year prior. There are currently 528 full-time employees in the House, not counting elected representatives, according to state data.
“This temporary hiring freeze is a proactive step the House of Representatives is taking to control spending and continue to support our staff and Members,” Palmer wrote to staff in the email.
Advertisement
The hiring freeze isn’t the first to hit Beacon Hill this year.
In May, Governor Maura Healey froze hiring for much of state government, the second hiring freeze in as many years.
At the time, Healey blamed the hiring freeze on the uncertainty at the federal level, saying, “tariffs and funding cuts from Washington are causing so much economic damage and instability.”
Advertisement
“The people of Massachusetts expect us to protect and maximize their tax dollars, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” she said.
Samantha J. Gross can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @samanthajgross.