Just as summer crowds are arriving, a federal hiring freeze is preventing the National Park Service from staffing any lifeguards at Assateague Island National Seashore.
Lifeguards have not been deemed “public safety” personnel, thereby disqualifying them for an exception to President Donald Trump’s April 17 overall hiring freeze. That directive, an Executive Order, was a follow-up on a freeze Trump imposed Jan. 20. The order adds that the federal Office of Personnel Management department may grant exemptions.
The U.S. Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, also issued notice of an indefinite freeze on personnel actions in a May 2 internal memo. The freeze includes promotions, reassignments, schedule changes, hardship transfers, and any new hiring.
“This decision has been made to ensure stability during our current employee data review processes and to streamline our operational focus associated with potential reductions in force,” wrote Stephanie M. Holmes, acting chief human capital officer for the Interior Department.
The Interior Department issued another notice on April 3, clarifying that some seasonal and public safety positions would be exempt from the freeze. The list included 55 jobs in the categories of emergency response, firefighting, law enforcement, security and aviation. Lifeguards did not make the list.
More scaremongering TDS from the fishwrap, The first sentence sets the pace.