The Pentagon is pushing ahead with plans to cut up to 60,000 civilian jobs, but has secured fewer than 21,000 voluntary resignations so far, leaving questions about how the remaining positions will be eliminated.
Top Takeaways
- The Department of Defense aims to reduce its civilian workforce by 50,000-60,000 employees, representing 5-8% of its 878,000 civilian workforce
- Approximately 21,000 employees have had their voluntary resignation requests approved under the Deferred Resignation Program
- A hiring freeze is currently in place, preventing the usual intake of about 6,000 new employees monthly
- Up to 30,000 veterans could be affected by the proposed cuts
- A federal judge has temporarily halted the termination of 5,400 probationary employees via restraining order
Strategic Workforce Reduction in Progress
Under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon is implementing a significant workforce restructuring aimed at enhancing military efficiency and focusing resources on critical defense functions. The plan seeks to reduce the civilian workforce by 50,000 to 60,000 positions through a multi-faceted approach including voluntary departures, a hiring freeze, and targeted reductions of probationary employees. This represents approximately 5-8% of the department’s current 878,000 civilian personnel, a change defense officials characterize as strategic rather than drastic.
The primary component of the reduction strategy has been the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), which allows employees to voluntarily leave while continuing to receive pay until October. A senior defense official reported that nearly 21,000 applications have been approved under this program, representing about one-third of the total reduction target. The hiring freeze currently in place prevents the usual intake of approximately 6,000 new employees per month, effectively contributing to the gradual workforce reduction.
Pentagon to cut up to 60K civilian jobs, but fewer than 21K have voluntarily resigned https://t.co/H0G2L36ibS
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Legal Challenges and Military Readiness Concerns
The Pentagon’s initial attempt to terminate 5,400 probationary employees has encountered significant legal obstacles. A federal judge issued a restraining order halting these dismissals, which the Department of Defense had targeted based on reported underperformance or misconduct issues. Defense officials have emphasized that probationary status alone was not the determining factor for potential removal, highlighting that these decisions were made on a case-by-case basis to protect mission-critical functions.
“The fact that someone was a probationary employee did not directly mean that they were going to be subject to removal,” explained a senior defense official.
While the Department has not publicly disclosed its contingency plans should voluntary measures fall short of the target, officials have indicated that other methods remain available to Secretary Hegseth. There is ongoing speculation about military personnel potentially filling some civilian roles, though defense leaders have consistently emphasized their commitment to avoiding negative impacts on military readiness and operational capabilities.
Impact on Veterans and Mission-Critical Functions
A significant concern in this workforce reduction is its potential impact on veterans, who make up a substantial portion of the Pentagon’s civilian workforce. Reports indicate that up to 30,000 veterans could be affected by the proposed cuts, raising questions about how the department will balance its reduction goals with its commitment to those who have previously served in uniform. Defense officials have stressed that they are carefully considering the specialized skills and experience veterans bring to the department.
“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,” stated a senior U.S. defense official.
The Department of Defense has framed these cuts as an effort to be responsible stewards of taxpayer resources while ensuring the department remains focused on its essential mission. Despite the challenges and complexities involved, Pentagon leadership appears committed to completing this transformation of the civilian workforce to better support America’s defense needs in an increasingly complex global security environment.
