President Trump’s federal hiring freeze is hurting military readiness, since the civilian maintainers required to keep equipment working can’t be hired, the House Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat argued on Tuesday.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said it’s a “bait-and-switch” for Trump to implement the civilian hiring freeze in the same week that he signed a symbolic presidential action promising to rebuild the military.
“That is unconscionable and it directly affects the support we provide to U.S. service members in the field, not to mention the national security of the United States. This boneheaded, ideological attack on the functioning of our government is having real consequences,” Smith said.
While the hiring freeze does not affect the recruitment of troops, it does hit Defense Department civilians, which include the maintainers who ensure the military’s aging fleet of planes, ships and vehicles all work when they are called upon in combat.
Smith said to expect the shockwaves to reach across the country. Layoffs are imminent for hundreds of temporary workers at Red River Army Depot in Texas, he said. In Georgia, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex is short 343 aircraft maintainers, but can’t hire more because of the freeze‎.
To fix the maintenance backlog largely caused by the Budget Control Act, the Pentagon asked Congress for the hiring authority to move temporary employees into permanent positions, a request that was granted in the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill, which was signed into law late last year, also gave the Defense Department more flexibility to hire cyber professionals.
“Now, under President Trump’s readiness-killing hiring freeze, these authorities cannot be used,” Smith said.
