Synchrony - Budget cuts and hiring freeze concerns

Is it just me or has hiring slowed to a crawl at Synchrony? I've been tracking open positions in my area and it feels like there's a significant freeze or at least a drastic reduction. Plus, I've noticed some departments are pushing back on new software/tool requests, citing budget constraints. This feels like classic pre-layoff signals, even if nothing official has dropped. My manager's been cagey when asked about team growth or future projects, just talking about 'optimizing resources.' It's making planning difficult and honestly, a little stressful. I'm wondering if this is a company-wide thing or specific to certain divisions. Anyone else in [Your Division, e.g., tech/operations] experiencing this? Are you seeing fewer external hires and more internal reshuffling? Trying to stay positive and focus on my work, but the uncertainty is definitely weighing on me. Curious to hear if others are feeling the same pressure or have any insights into what might be happening behind the scenes. This feels different than typical year-end budget reviews.