The Pentagon is pushing full steam ahead with a massive civilian staff reduction that could impact up to 60,000 employees. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new initiative aims to refocus America’s military priorities while being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. He’s DOGE-ing the Department of Defense!
At a glance:
• Pentagon plans to cut 50,000-60,000 civilian positions, representing 5-8% of its 878,000 civilian workforce
• Nearly 21,000 employees have accepted voluntary resignation offers through the Deferred Resignation Program
• A hiring freeze is in effect, preventing the usual intake of 6,000 new employees monthly
• Up to 32,000 military veterans who work as Pentagon civilians could be affected by the cuts
• A federal judge has temporarily halted the termination of 5,400 probationary employees
Major Pentagon Workforce Reduction Underway
The Department of Defense is implementing a significant workforce reduction plan that aims to trim between 50,000 and 60,000 civilian positions. This strategic realignment comes as part of Secretary Hegseth’s efforts to enhance America’s military readiness and ensure resources are properly allocated to mission-critical functions.
The Pentagon has already approved nearly 21,000 applications through its Deferred Resignation Program, allowing employees to voluntarily leave while still receiving pay until October. Defense officials have emphasized that this voluntary approach represents the largest component of the workforce reduction strategy so far.
A senior defense official explained, “The majority of the workforce reduction effort is voluntary measures, and the biggest component of that to date has been the deferred resignation program.” The same official noted they had “approved more than 20,000 nearing 21,000 of the applications from employees that volunteered” to participate in the program.
Veterans Affected and Legal Challenges
The workforce reduction could impact up to 32,000 military veterans currently employed in civilian Pentagon positions.
A senior U.S. defense official stated, “So there are so many critical skills and experience that veterans have to offer. And that’s part of the analysis. When we consider who is contributing to the core mission functions and who should be retained.”
The Pentagon had initially moved to terminate 5,400 probationary employees identified for underperformance or misconduct issues. However, a federal judge issued a restraining order that has temporarily halted this part of the reduction plan, creating a legal hurdle for the department.
Budget Focus and Leadership Determination
Defense Secretary Hegseth remains committed to completing the workforce reduction, with officials indicating that other methods remain available if voluntary measures don’t reach the target. The Secretary has stated the cuts “can be done without negatively impacting readiness in order to make sure that our resources are allocated in the right direction.”
Hegseth might be reducing staff, but he’s made it abundantly clear that his department will not sacrifice American security. This is about streamlining and improving – and it’s about time we did it.
