MIKE POMPEO/STATE/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday [5-15-18] lifted a hiring freeze at the department, reversing an unpopular policy introduced by his predecessor, Rex Tillerson. A State Department official said the move applied to both foreign-service and civil-service job classifications and would allow hiring to resume at current funding levels…Under Mr. Tillerson, the Trump administration had proposed cutting the State Department budget by nearly one-third and left hundreds of jobs vacant. Foreign service officers—who carry out U.S. diplomatic goals—had been frustrated by the policy, which was part of a wider plan to streamline the department. State Department staff members said Tuesday they were encouraged by the move, but said it was unclear how long it would take Mr. Pompeo to fill high-level positions that have remained vacant…Vacancies in many key positions have been another source of frustration for staff members, who hope that Mr. Pompeo will fulfill an early promise to bring the ’swagger’ back to the department.”
–Jessica Donati, “Mike Pompeo Lifts State Department Hiring Freeze,” The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2018 1:44 pm