Healey administration calls for hiring freeze amid federal funding concerns

In response to concerns about federal funding, the Healey administration announced on Wednesday that it will implement a freeze on hiring within the state executive branch starting on May 27. The aim is to manage the state’s finances while finalizing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, according to a statement from Governor Maura Healey’s office.

Governor Healey emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayer dollars in the face of economic challenges caused by tariffs and funding cuts from Washington. The hiring freeze will apply to all agencies and departments, with no new employees being hired, although some exceptions may be made for certain positions as in past freezes.

A tracker of federal cuts to state programs revealed that Massachusetts has already faced over $350 million in cuts, highlighting the significant impact of federal funding on the state’s budget. With federal funding accounting for one third of Massachusetts’ spending, the administration is taking proactive steps to ensure that funding is available for essential services.

The House and Senate have finalized their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, with both budgets reflecting an increase in spending compared to the previous year due to federal funding cuts. The effectiveness of the hiring freeze will be reassessed once the General Appropriations Act for the next fiscal year is signed and implemented, as stated in the announcement.