AUSA/USAO hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing this hiring freeze affects AUSAs? Or are crim AUSAs “public safety” positions?

Spoke to some local AUSA's today. They currently believe it applies to them. Moreover, many of their new AUSAs, of which there were many, were on a probationary status. They have no idea if they can keep them.

It's chaos. The order appears to have been issued without any consultation as to what it would cause downstream. The local AUSAs, many who were excited about a Trump term, are beside themselves.

The EO excepts "appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule A or C positions in the Excepted Service"; Schedule A includes attorneys as well as some other categories. Does this mean attorney positions are not frozen?

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing this hiring freeze affects AUSAs? Or are crim AUSAs “public safety” positions?

Spoke to some local AUSA's today. They currently believe it applies to them. Moreover, many of their new AUSAs, of which there were many, were on a probationary status. They have no idea if they can keep them.

It's chaos. The order appears to have been issued without any consultation as to what it would cause downstream. The local AUSAs, many who were excited about a Trump term, are beside themselves.

The EO excepts "appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule A or C positions in the Excepted Service"; Schedule A includes attorneys as well as some other categories. Does this mean attorney positions are not frozen?

Schedule A is not a category of positions, it is an affirmative action program for people with disabilities. It's 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), "Appointment of persons with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities"

[Anonymous User]

I am a current AUSA and can tell you that we've revoked two final offers that were accepted with EOD dates scheduled in the coming months. Insane.

[Anonymous User]

Can confirm. Offers are being rescinded even for folks who cleared background checks. No clue whether exemptions might change things down the road.

[Anonymous User]

Can confirm. Offers are being rescinded even for folks who cleared background checks. No clue whether exemptions might change things down the road.

[Anonymous User]

I’m guessing this hiring freeze affects AUSAs? Or are crim AUSAs “public safety” positions?

Spoke to some local AUSA's today. They currently believe it applies to them. Moreover, many of their new AUSAs, of which there were many, were on a probationary status. They have no idea if they can keep them.

It's chaos. The order appears to have been issued without any consultation as to what it would cause downstream. The local AUSAs, many who were excited about a Trump term, are beside themselves.

The EO excepts "appointment of officials to non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service or to Schedule A or C positions in the Excepted Service"; Schedule A includes attorneys as well as some other categories. Does this mean attorney positions are not frozen?

Schedule A is not a category of positions, it is an affirmative action program for people with disabilities. It's 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), "Appointment of persons with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities"

There are different types of schedule A appointments, one of which is disability-based. Of course the original question is moot now.

[Anonymous User]

My office has two new people who are supposed to start really soon, and I haven’t heard that those positions have been cut. However, both are currently AUSAs elsewhere, and I think they’re literally starting in the next week or two, so are able to squeak in under the wire.

Guidance has been largely non-existent though. Our acting USA keeps walking around the office just laughing about it because otherwise you’d have to cry.

[Anonymous User]

I have heard that everyone who was slated to start in after this month or so is cut.

[Publius78]

I have heard that everyone who was slated to start in after this month or so is cut.

Correct. What’s not clear is what happens if and when DOJ get additional guidance on exemptions—i.e., do rescinded offers get re-offered, or do candidates need to reapply? I don’t think even the offices know.

[Anonymous User]

Do we anticipate new hires on the chopping block as well? From NYT: "As part of the administration’s push to freeze hiring across all agencies, the Justice Department has also rescinded job offers to its honors program. And like other agencies, the department has been told to submit a list of all probationary employees to the White House, meaning those who have not yet served long enough in their roles and so are not yet entitled to full protection by civil service laws."

[Anonymous User]

Do we anticipate new hires on the chopping block as well? From NYT: "As part of the administration’s push to freeze hiring across all agencies, the Justice Department has also rescinded job offers to its honors program. And like other agencies, the department has been told to submit a list of all probationary employees to the White House, meaning those who have not yet served long enough in their roles and so are not yet entitled to full protection by civil service laws."

There’s no telling what could happen. Everyone at my office (including me) is a little spooked, to say the least.

[Anonymous User]

Perhaps this is our saving grace:"In addition, agencies should promptly determine whether those
employees should be retained at the agency?" It sounds like agencies themselves are making the call?

[Publius78]

I have heard that everyone who was slated to start in after this month or so is cut.

Correct. What’s not clear is what happens if and when DOJ get additional guidance on exemptions—i.e., do rescinded offers get re-offered, or do candidates need to reapply? I don’t think even the offices know.

Bumping this—has anyone heard anything re: exemptions from hiring freeze being granted/denied?

[Anonymous User]

I have heard that everyone who was slated to start in after this month or so is cut.

Correct. What’s not clear is what happens if and when DOJ get additional guidance on exemptions—i.e., do rescinded offers get re-offered, or do candidates need to reapply? I don’t think even the offices know.

Bumping this—has anyone heard anything re: exemptions from hiring freeze being granted/denied?

My understanding is that this won’t be considered until the 120-day initial hiring freeze is up.

Based on Trump 1.0, if you had an offer when the freeze went into effect, it can be reinstated without the need to reapply. I don’t know if it has to be, but it can be. No idea what if any approval this admin will want to have over who gets reinstated though (historically this hasn’t been the case, but who knows).

[m27]

I have heard that everyone who was slated to start in after this month or so is cut.

Correct. What’s not clear is what happens if and when DOJ get additional guidance on exemptions—i.e., do rescinded offers get re-offered, or do candidates need to reapply? I don’t think even the offices know.

Bumping this—has anyone heard anything re: exemptions from hiring freeze being granted/denied?

My understanding is that this won’t be considered until the 120-day initial hiring freeze is up.

Based on Trump 1.0, if you had an offer when the freeze went into effect, it can be reinstated without the need to reapply. I don’t know if it has to be, but it can be. No idea what if any approval this admin will want to have over who gets reinstated though (historically this hasn’t been the case, but who knows).

Isn't the freeze for 90 days?
(see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential ... ng-freeze/)

[Anonymous User]

Ah, I must have mixed it up with another EO.

Also, fwiw, apparently SDCA got authority to hire 28 new AUSAs.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything back from all these recent postings around the country? Currently sitting on 20 "referred to hiring manager," but haven't heard anything back. Some are approaching to a month since referral.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything back from all these recent postings around the country? Currently sitting on 20 "referred to hiring manager," but haven't heard anything back. Some are approaching to a month since referral.

Update: received several interview requests from TX (major metropolitan areas, not border towns).

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything back from all these recent postings around the country? Currently sitting on 20 "referred to hiring manager," but haven't heard anything back. Some are approaching to a month since referral.

Update: received several interview requests from TX (major metropolitan areas, not border towns).

Got a job offer with a criminal division!