Trump orders agencies to plan widespread layoffs and reduce hiring

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that will require federal agencies to severely curtail hiring, once the current freeze is lifted, and to develop new plans to implement widespread layoffs across government. [Editor's note: The order says the layoffs do not apply to military personnel, and that agency heads "may exempt from this order any position they deem necessary to meet national security, homeland security, or public safety responsibilities."]The order will plac