WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) today praised the decision by Secretary Mike Pompeo to lift the hiring freeze at the State Department.  “The talented men and women of the State Department are on this country’s front lines, defending our national interests and freedom around the world,” said Frelinghuysen.  “If we are to effectively ‘marry’ the ‘hard power’ of our military with the ‘soft power’ of diplomacy, we need the right foreign service personnel at the right posts now!”

In a statement released today, Pompeo said resuming the hiring of Foreign and Civil Service personnel will “give our domestic bureaus and missions overseas the flexibility to fill positions that are essential to promoting the Department's mission and the United States' foreign policy goals worldwide on behalf of the American people.”  

“It’s an increasingly complex and challenging world,” said Frelinghuysen.  “Secretary Pompeo understands that we need the most gifted and qualified people promoting our interests across the globe!”

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