GSA memo: Agency officials freeze hiring

Facing growing business problems over contracting vehicles, General Services Administration's Acting Administrator David Bibb has ordered the agency to impose a hiring freeze.

Bibb’s Feb. 24 memo said the hiring freeze would affect general management and administration staff at the central and regional offices. It follows a January hiring freeze that Federal Acquisition Services’ Acting Commissioner Marty Wagner imposed on the Federal Technology Service and the Federal Supply Service, which has merged into FAS.

The GSA has had to focus on bringing costs in line with revenues and the longer-term development of FAS, but resolving those issues “will contribute to a customer-focused, more efficient GSA,” Bibb wrote.

On Feb. 21, Bibb approved the FAS’ organization design. GSA officials are briefing lawmakers today on the state of the GSA.

“Employees are anxious and terrified,” said Jack Hanley, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees Council of GSA Locals, in an interview Friday. At a Feb. 22 briefing, he said he learned that approximately 400 employees could be affected. GSA declined to comment on the number.

Bibb wrote that officials are exploring buyouts and early-out authority for certain positions in FTS and FSS. That move would reduce overhead costs for the two services, according to the memo.

“We expect a very timely response from the Office of Personnel Management and [the Office of Management and Budget],” regarding the request to reduce the GSA workforce, the memo states.