DeKalb County CEO Issues Executive Order to Ensure Fiscal Responsibility Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty [Video]

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has taken a decisive step to safeguard the county’s financial health and essential public services by issuing an Executive Order that temporarily freezes new spending and hiring.

The order, effective immediately, is a proactive measure designed to cushion the county from potential disruptions tied to uncertainties surrounding future federal funding. DeKalb County relies on approximately $346 million annually in federal funds to support a broad range of critical programs, including services for seniors, the unhoused, food security initiatives, workforce development, and accountability courts.

“This action is about being fiscally responsible and ensuring DeKalb County is in the best position possible should any portion of our federal or state funding be reduced or eliminated,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “We are not eliminating jobs or cutting services. We are planning to preserve them.”

The Executive Order does not impact current positions or programs already funded under the FY2025 budget approved by the Board of Commissioners. Additionally, budget-neutral reclassifications will continue as planned.

Under the order, departments that fall under the CEO’s supervision are instructed to:

• Evaluate spending through a fiscally responsible lens,
• Refrain from creating new positions without written approval from the CEO,
• Submit strategies for cost savings and ideas for generating revenue,
• Reassess non-core programs and external events to identify opportunities for potential reductions.

CEO Cochran-Johnson emphasized that the county’s top priority remains protecting the programs that serve DeKalb’s most vulnerable populations.

“Programs that feed the hungry, house the unhoused, care for seniors, and train residents for jobs must be protected,” she said. “This Executive Order is about safeguarding our ability to serve the people of DeKalb County while ensuring we remain financially stable.”

The order will remain in effect until further notice as the administration continues to monitor the fiscal landscape and advocate for sustained federal and state support.