[DyslexicAtheist]

not FAANG but this is also my experience with large companies in automotive, NEV's and even banking. There is almost always a hiring stop followed by a huge ramp-up in outsourcing.

Existing ongoing projects still need to be delivered and are usually chronically understaffed so the hiring stop adds even more pressure and gives the justification for bringing in consultants.

The whole thing usually plays out like this: investor meeting where cost cutting is a top priority. Agreement to slash all permanent hiring budgets and put new hiring plans on hold. This cascades down the chain with engineering departments revising their projections and raising alarm about risks to not meeting deadlines for existing projects. Budget gets approved for onboarding freelancers.