State freeze could end 1,951 jobs

Reaction to freeze

What state departments are saying:

Department of Social and Health Services: Robin Arnold-Williams, secretary of the 19,000-employee DSHS, said she was bracing for cuts because costs of fuel and food were squeezing agency budgets. She intends to go on filling positions for Child Protective Services investigators and those who work with vulnerable populations. "I actually sent out a memo in May that encouraged people to think twice about … discretionary spending," Arnold-Williams said, noting that agency budgets had been based on gasoline costing closer to $2 than $4. "I've been stacking up and not approving out-of-state travel the past couple of weeks. … Now we're saying, 'Nope, you're not going.'" Arnold-Williams said it was not immediately clear how many vacant positions she has or how many jobs would be left unfilled. But she pledged to protect the public, saying: "I have full confidence in my team that we will do this in a way that protects core responsibilities, protects clients and the public."

Department of Transportation: DOT Secretary Paula Hammond said she issued two executive orders a few months ago that promoted more ride-sharing by the staff in her 7,300-employee agency and reduced travel. "We're looking now at what it means to the department. We have to ensure safety — not only safety of the vessels but also safe freeway and highway operations," Hammond said, adding the agency already had resisted filling positions where it had discretion.

Department of Natural Resources: Spokeswoman Patty Henson said the independent agency has reduced fuel consumption and slowed hiring for six months, but it would try to cooperate with the order. Commissioner Doug Sutherland reached out to the governor's staff to clarify what the order meant, but does not want to harm DNR's essential services such as firefighting, its regulatory programs or its revenue generating ability, Henson said.

The Evergreen State College: Evergreen spokesman Jason Wettstein said the college would strengthen its review of hiring decisions as positions become vacant, and college leaders continue to review purchases and travel, but fell short of saying a hard freeze would take effect. He also said the college is replacing fossil-fuel vehicles with electric ones and reducing energy use.