Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday ordered state agencies to freeze hiring as part of the spending reduction goals called for in his budget proposal.

"We have a $25 billion deficit, and we must do everything possible to save money and make government leaner and more efficient," Brown said in a statement.

Brown's executive order, the third of his term, applies to vacant, seasonal and full and part-time positions across state government, but includes exceptions for filling "positions that are critical to public safety, revenue collection and other core functions, in cases where these essential duties cannot be carried out at current staffing levels," according to a release. It also exempts senior-level appointments in the Brown administration. Any "limited exemptions" to the order will require approval from the governor's office.

The order also prohibits transferring employees between departments and agencies, increasing part-time positions to full-time status and increasing personal-services contracts to offset the impact of the freeze.

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