Today, Governor J. Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2025-09 to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure transparency and accountability across agencies. Governor Stitt has set a goal to have fewer state employees when he leaves office than in 2019. He makes it clear with this order that transitioning full-time equivalent (FTE) to contractors to achieve numbers is not an option.

“Agencies must be fiscally responsible and transparent,” said Governor Stitt. “Transforming staff roles into independent contractors that cost taxpayers more is unacceptable. Oklahomans want smaller government, not government that hides behind gimmicks. We can continue to serve Oklahomans while ensuring that every dollar is spent efficiently.”

Key Requirements of Executive Order 2025-09:

Mandatory Reports Due by April 15: All state agencies must submit a detailed report to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) by Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Scope of the Report: Agencies must identify all FTE employees whose roles have been converted to independent contractor positions within the last 12 months. The report must include:

The number of FTE positions and vacancies in the state agency as of December 17, 2024;

The number of FTE positions and vacancies in the state agency as of the date of this Executive Order;

A complete itemized list of all instances where agency FTE count has been reduced or where the agency has left a position vacant due to the use of independent contractors or other outside contracts within the preceding twelve (12) months;

The total compensation, inclusive of benefits, for each FTE position eliminated due to or replaced by independent contractors or other outside contracts;

The total cost of each contract, inclusive of benefits if applicable, that enabled the reduction in total state agency FTE positions or allowed the positions to remain vacant;

A financial analysis of whether the change in total costs to the agency resulting from the use of independent contractors or other outside contracts has resulted in net savings, or net cost, to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma. This analysis shall be limited to quantifiable financial expenditures and shall not be inclusive of any subjective metrics or evaluations of the agency.

This measure reinforces Governor Stitt’s ongoing commitment to streamlining government operations, ensuring fiscal prudence, and upholding the public trust.