Two‑for‑One Hiring Freeze Keeps City Headcount Below Pre‑pandemic Levels; OMB Allows Case‑by‑case Exemptions

The mayor’s two‑for‑one hiring policy remained a flashpoint in the finance hearing as council leaders asked whether the freeze will be lifted and how agencies will fill critical vacancies.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams highlighted that the city’s actual full‑time headcount is roughly 286,000 — more than 5% below pre‑pandemic levels — while budgeted headcount has fallen by only 1.9%. She asked whether the two‑for‑one policy is still in effect and which positions are exempt.

Jacques Shishaha, director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, told the committee "the policy remains in place." He said exemptions have been granted for uniform personnel, public safety, public health and revenue‑generating positions and that the administration handles additional requests on a day‑to‑day basis when agencies demonstrate pressing needs. When the chair asked what constitutes a revenue‑generating position, Shishaha replied, "Revenue generating position would be an auditor."

Council members pressed on NYPD and 9‑1‑1 vacancies. OMB said it has worked with NYPD to approve hiring for exempt titles and that the department has received approvals for its recruiting requests, including for officers and 9‑1‑1 operators. Council members asked OMB to provide follow‑up on larger vacancy rates and on whether the freeze will be adjusted as headcount recovers.

The administration said exemptions and targeted approvals are intended to balance near‑term fiscal savings with operational needs. Council members remained skeptical that a piecemeal exemption process resolves the broader problem of understaffing and asked for regular vacancy reporting and clearer criteria for exemptions.