The federal hiring freeze imposed by President Trump last week presents opportunities for contractors who provide professional and support services to federal agencies.  Traditionally, agencies that can’t hire full-time replacements for departing federal workers turn to contractors to ensure that critical missions still get met.  After all, work both important and routine needs to get done if the government is to meet national security and other missions.  Outsourcing non-core government functions is also a trend more closely associated with Republican presidential administrations.  Contractors may want to clap with one hand, though, as the nominee for the head of the Office of Management and Budget has indicated an openness to freezing the hiring of contractors as well.  This is by no means a “done deal”, but it does reflect a degree of intent not previously seen.  Will calls for smaller government actually result in smaller government?  This discussion transcends government acquisition.  In the short to medium-term, though, contractors can expect increased opportunities to augment frozen federal staff levels.