WA Gov. Inslee orders hiring and travel freeze for state agencies

With the state facing a multi-billion dollar budget gap, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered state agencies to freeze “most non-discretionary and non-essential” hiring, service contracts, purchasing and travel.

Inslee’s directive, issued late Monday, contains exceptions such as positions that “directly impact public safety,” contracts tied to tax collection or revenue generation, and travel required for people to carry out core job duties.

“While this is a difficult endeavor, I ask each agency to participate and use common sense, good judgment, and creativity to accomplish the ultimate goal of this directive to capture immediate savings through spending reductions not related to the public safety and essential health and welfare of Washingtonians,” Inslee wrote in his two-page directive.

In November, the governor warned state agencies of an anticipated operating budget shortfall between $10 billion and $12 billion through June 2029 and directed them to find ways to pare spending. Some departments, such as the Department of Social and Health Services and Department of Transportation, adopted hiring freezes for many jobs.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-gov-inslee-orders-hiring-and-travel-freeze-for-state-agencies/