By Yeganeh Torbati and Lesley Wroughton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department will maintain a hiring freeze imposed shortly after President Donald Trump took office, even though it was lifted for the rest of the federal government, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters and an updated staff notice.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informed State Department employees of the decision in a brief memo on Wednesday. A notice to staff on the hiring freeze was also updated on the State Department's website.
The decision to keep the hiring freeze comes as Tillerson looks to a major reorganization of the U.S. diplomatic and aid agency, which will include downsizing staff over a period of two to three years, two State Department officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Although the Office of Management and Budget lifted the federal hiring freeze effective April 12, 2017, the Department will maintain its hiring freeze in effect for the present time. Any change to this policy will be notified promptly," according to the internal memo obtained by Reuters.
A notice to staff on the State Department's website was updated on Wednesday and read: "At this time, the Department's current hiring freeze guidance remains in effect including with respect to hiring under a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or Temporary Appointment."
The FMA is a hiring and benefits program for family members of diplomats posted at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
A State Department spokesman did not immediately comment. The Office of Management and Budget, which handles federal budgeting, also did not respond to a request for comment.
A third U.S. official said Tillerson wanted to maintain the hiring freeze to more easily carry out a reorganization that he believes any institution needs periodically.
Congress, not the president, will ultimately have the final say on the level of State Department funding.
"He thinks every good organization needs to be periodically shaken up and reviewed and he’s going to take a look at how the department works and he is going to restructure it but he is going to do it his way on his time," said the third official, who spoke on condition of anonymity
"He didn’t want to just rehire everybody and create difficulties for the reorganization he feels is necessary because of the budget cut," the third official added.
Trump's budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Tuesday that the hiring freeze would be lifted but that agencies will be asked to remain mindful of Trump's goal to reduce the federal work force.
Tillerson said in March that the State Department's current spending was "simply not sustainable."
Trump's budget proposal for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 would cut 28 percent of the budget for U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid. Republicans and Democrats in Congress, which approves the budget, have rejected the prospect of such cuts.
It was not known whether the White House directed Tillerson to keep the hiring freeze in place for the State Department or whether other agencies would also refuse to lift the hiring ban.