# Federal Agencies Adjust Hiring Rates

In 2025, key federal agencies including the Department of the Interior, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, and Defense experienced notable shifts in new-hire rates, with most agencies reporting declines compared to 2024 except for the Department of Homeland Security, which remained nearly steady. Sub-agency hiring trends varied significantly, such as robust recruitment at ICE contrasted with reductions at CISA within DHS, and seasonal or limited-term positions influencing Interior's hiring figures. These workforce adjustments have direct implications for contracting and staffing opportunities across defense, homeland security, and international development sectors.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should anticipate fluctuating demand for staffing and contractor support services aligned with agency hiring trends, particularly in security and defense-related functions.
- Agencies with declining new-hire rates may shift more toward contractor reliance or adjust contract scopes, affecting vendor engagement strategies.
- Understanding sub-agency hiring nuances can help contractors tailor proposals and resource allocations to areas with sustained or growing workforce needs.
- Organizations supporting federal workforce augmentation should evaluate these trends to optimize staffing models and identify emerging opportunities within federal contracts.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Public Safety
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of State
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense (DoD)

### Key Quotes
> The 2025 leaders were not repeating their 2024 rates. Each of the ten recorded a lower rate in the equivalent full-year calculation. Homeland Security was nearly unchanged, slipping from 110.4 to 109.0 actions per 1,000.
> — Original poster

### Sources
- [10 Federal Agencies With the Highest Reported New-Hire Rates in 2025](https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1wsmb8c/10_federal_agencies_with_the_highest_reported) - reddit-fednews