The U.S. Defense Department announced on Friday that it will be terminating 5,400 probationary employees starting next week and will implement a hiring freeze.
This decision comes after representatives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) visited the Pentagon earlier in the week and provided lists of employees slated for downsizing, according to officials.
It’s important to note that these lists do not include uniformed military personnel, who are not affected by the cuts.
Probationary workers typically have been employed for less than a year and do not yet have civil service protections.
Darin Selnick, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, indicated in a statement that the Department expects to reduce its civilian workforce by 5-8% as part of an effort to enhance operational efficiencies and realign focus to the President’s priorities, including improving military readiness.
The decision to reduce probationary staff is part of a broader strategy under the Trump administration to let go of numerous federal employees who hold limited civil service protections.
As an illustration, about 2,000 staff members from the U.S. Forest Service and 7,000 at the Internal Revenue Service are among those expected to be dismissed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed support for these reductions, stating on social media last week that the Pentagon needs to streamline its operations, emphasizing the necessity of “cutting the fat” while enhancing resources for active service members, whom he refers to as “warfighters.”
Currently, the Defense Department remains the largest federal agency, with the Government Accountability Office reporting in 2023 that it employs over 700,000 civilian workers.
To further assist in budgetary measures, Hegseth has tasked military branches with identifying $50 billion in potential program cuts for the upcoming year, aiming to redirect those resources towards funding initiatives aligned with the Trump administration’s agenda.
This figure represents about 8% of the entire military budget.
