Defense Department Prepares for Mass Firings of Civilian Employees
The Defense Department is gearing up for significant layoffs among its civilian workforce, marking a major move in the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce. Reports from current employees and internal communications suggest that these dismissals could begin imminently, with multiple employees confirming the plans.
In a recent video shared on social media, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the department’s reevaluation of probationary employees in alignment with the Office of Personnel Management’s directive. Hegseth emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of the workforce to identify and eliminate redundancies, starting with underperforming probationary employees.
The Secretary announced plans for a department-wide hiring freeze to allow for a performance-based selection process, rewarding high-performing employees essential to the agency’s core mission. While no specific timeline was provided for these actions, concerns have been raised about compliance with laws protecting veteran hiring preferences and federal employee rights.
Despite earlier exemptions from federal hiring freezes, the Pentagon now faces pressure to reduce its workforce. Commands and agencies within the Defense Department have been tasked with identifying probationary employees for potential termination, raising uncertainty and anxiety among staff.
Members of the White House’s office visited the Pentagon last week, prompting warnings about the potential impact of these layoffs. Probationary employees, typically in their first year of service, are particularly vulnerable to job cuts due to the ease of termination during this period.
As supervisors and HR personnel rushed to share relevant information this week, employees across various Defense agencies braced for the imminent changes. Some received notices urging them to prepare for termination, while others awaited further details on the timeline and affected positions.
Reports from Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force entities suggest a unified effort to comply with the directives, with varying levels of clarity on the selection criteria for employee retention. Concerns about morale and job security have surged as employees anticipate the impact of these workforce reductions.
Amidst the uncertainty, agency leaders have reassured employees of their value and commitment to supporting them through the transition. However, the looming threat of layoffs has led many employees to clear out their workspaces in anticipation of abrupt terminations, reflecting a sense of urgency and unease within the workforce.
The cumulative effect of these dismissals across federal agencies raises questions about the broader implications for government operations and employee morale. With an ongoing push to streamline the federal workforce, the Defense Department’s actions signal a significant shift in federal employment practices.
As employees brace for potential job loss, the broader implications of these mass firings remain uncertain. The impact on individual livelihoods, agency operations, and the overall federal workforce landscape highlights the challenges facing civil servants in today’s uncertain economic climate.
Contact Meghann Myers (mmyers@defenseone.com), Eric Katz (ekatz@govexec.com), or Audrey Decker (adecker@defenseone.com) to share your experience working in the national-security sphere and how these efforts are impacting you.