Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statewide hiring freeze Wednesday as the state faces a budget shortfall and voters rejected a proposed amendment that would have generated funding for teacher pay raises in next year's spending plan. Landry said he hopes the hiring freeze will generate $20 million in annual savings for the state's general fund.

Gov. Jeff Landry has issued an executive order instituting a hiring freeze across Louisiana's executive branch of government.

After voters rejected an amendment on taxes, Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order Wednesday, imposing a hiring freeze on Louisiana’s executive branch in hopes to save the state $20 million.