The Department of Defense has announced a major workforce reduction, planning to lay off 5,400 probationary employees starting next week. Additionally, new hiring will be temporarily halted.
This decision follows a recent visit by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the Pentagon. DOGE, led by businessman Elon Musk, has been working to cut federal jobs across various agencies, including the FDA and IRS. However, some of these dismissals have been criticized as wrongful. The Trump administration is now taking steps to prevent these employees from being rehired.
The job cuts will not impact uniformed military personnel, as they were not included in the review. Probationary employees, who have usually been working for less than a year, do not have full civil service protections, making them more vulnerable to layoffs.
Darin Selnick, the acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, stated that the Department aims to reduce its civilian workforce by 5-8%. The goal is to improve efficiency and focus on the President’s priorities while strengthening military readiness.
This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to downsize the federal workforce. Previously, around 2,000 jobs were cut from the U.S. Forest Service, and about 7,000 layoffs are expected at the Internal Revenue Service.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports these workforce reductions. He recently posted on social media that the Pentagon must “cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters).” His statement reflects a push to reduce administrative costs and focus on military operations.
The Department of Defense is the largest government agency, employing over 700,000 full-time civilian workers as of 2023. Hegseth has also instructed military branches to identify $50 billion in potential budget cuts. The savings will be redirected toward funding Trump’s priorities. This amount represents approximately 8% of the military’s total budget.
The planned layoffs and budget cuts are expected to spark debate. Supporters argue that trimming excess civilian jobs will make the government more efficient and prioritize military strength. However, critics worry about the impact on affected workers and the overall effectiveness of the Defense Department.
As the situation unfolds, many will be watching to see how these changes impact national security and the federal workforce. The government is expected to provide further updates on the restructuring efforts in the coming weeks.
