Talent News Roundup: Federal Hiring Freeze Extended
Former EEOC leaders share insights at SHRM BLUEPRINT 2025
Federal workforce strategy is in the spotlight as President Donald Trump extends the federal hiring freeze and advances merit-based hiring reforms. Meanwhile, an HR analytics expert emphasizes the need for data-driven yet human-centered workforce planning, and former U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) leaders Jenny Yang and Victoria Lipnic share critical insights on compliance, inclusion, and the evolving equal employment landscape at SHRM BLUEPRINT 2025.
Trump Extends Federal Hiring Freeze, Pushes Merit-Based Plans
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Oct. 15 largely maintaining a freeze on federal hiring and establishing "Strategic Hiring Committees" at each federal agency. These committees are tasked with ensuring that hiring reflects "agency needs, the national interest and administration priorities."
The order continues the Trump administration's efforts to reshape federal hiring by involving more political appointees in the process.
The executive order follows a recent move by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to replace its long-standing candidate selection methods with a new framework allowing agencies to select from a more tailored pool of candidates based on skills-based assessments.
Workforce Planning Demands Data, Flexibility, and a Human Focus
HR leaders need to understand that workforce planning will be directionally correct but precisely wrong, and that that's OK, said Kelli Klindtworth, director of strategic advisory services at Visier.
"The world is uncertain," she said. "If you plan too precisely, you will fail. Workforce planning is about inspiring your decisions. It's about giving you an idea of what types of risk trade-offs you might make but not giving you the precise answers."
Klindtworth said that resilient organizations with successful outcomes have three anchor points:
- They practice organizational design with intentionality.
- They practice scenario modeling for adaptability.
- They practice workforce planning with a focus on humanity.
Former EEOC Leaders Shared Insights on Workplace Inclusion
Former EEOC leaders Jenny Yang and Victoria Lipnic shared insights on compliance, risk, and workplace inclusion on Oct. 27 at SHRM BLUEPRINT 2025 in Louisville, Ky. The session focused on how executive and regulatory actions will shape the post-2025 equal employment opportunity landscape, what steps employers can take to avoid costly legal and reputational risks, and how to prepare organizations for compliance in the years ahead.
"In this time when it may seem confusing and risky to continue the work of equal opportunity, it is essential for organizations not to retreat," Yang said in a Q&A with SHRM. "Strong teams benefit from organizational structures and cultures where individuals air differing viewpoints and voice concerns, which allow organizations to reach better decisions that expand their customer base, prevent harmful errors, and attract and retain top talent."
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