That means normal hiring actions and “onboarding” can proceed for the 94 vacant civilian positions at AFMC’s Wright-Patterson headquarters, Kaufman said.
However, Kaufman cautioned that the number of 94 openings is “a snapshot in time.” Those who hire at AFMC also contend with shifting conditions, such as retirements and onboarding new employees who have been matched with position vacancies and accepted other job offers, he said.
The information was offered about a week after President Trump issued a 90-day freeze on the hiring of federal government civilian employees.
While Trump’s order did make an exception for military positions and openings tied to “national security,” spokespeople at important Wright-Patterson missions and commands told the Dayton Daily News last week that they sought clarity on the order’s implications.
For example, a spokeswoman for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) said the lab was looking for clarity on whether it could hire a new civilian as a chief knowledge, data and AI officer. That is a new AFRL position.
A spokeswoman for AFRL Wednesday said the lab continued to seek guidance on the matter.
The federal government is the largest employer in the nation, in terms of number of employees and money spent.
Wright-Patterson has more employees in one general location — about 38,000 or so — than any other employer in the state of Ohio.
The base is home to critical Air Force missions, such as the AFMC headquarters, the sprawling, global command responsible for equipping and sustaining the service and its many planes, weapons and equipment.
Wright-Patt is also home to the headquarters of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and many other missions that employ thousands of civilians.
Within 90 days of the order, the director of the Office of Management and Budget is expected to submit a plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce “through efficiency improvements and attrition,” Trump’s executive order stated.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has offered “deferred resignation” to federal employees who agree to leave their jobs within seven business days.
“The federal workforce is expected to undergo significant near-term changes,” an OPM FAQ tells workers. “As a result of these changes (or for other reasons), you may wish to depart the federal government on terms that provide you with sufficient time and economic security to plan for your future — and have a nice vacation.”
An OPM page says the “voluntary separation incentive payment” allows agencies that are downsizing to offer employees lump-sum payments up to $25,000 as an incentive to leave their jobs.
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