Pentagon to Lay Off 5,400 Probationary Employees Starting Next Week
The Department of Defense is aiming to reduce its civilian workforce by 5 to 8 percent.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) plans to lay off thousands of employees as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to enhance efficiency and curb wasteful spending within federal agencies.
“We anticipate that around 5,400 probationary employees will be dismissed starting next week as part of this initial initiative, after which we will initiate a hiring freeze while we further assess our personnel requirements, always abiding by applicable laws.”
Staff from DOGE are visiting various agencies to pinpoint methods to enhance their efficiency.
Selnick indicated that the reevaluation of probationary staff is not exclusive to the Department of Defense but is being conducted government-wide.
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“We foresee a reduction in the Department’s civilian workforce by 5–8 percent to improve efficiencies and realign the department with the president’s priorities, as well as restore military readiness,” he added.
A reduction of 5 to 8 percent may result in the dismissal of between 38,547 and 61,675 employees. It remains uncertain how many of these figures pertain to civilian personnel.
Selnick emphasized that keeping employees whose contributions are not “mission-critical” does not serve the public interest.
“Taxpayers expect a comprehensive review of our workforce to eliminate redundancies,” he remarked.
During a Feb. 20 briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that DOGE will have access to DOD systems to help identify “fraud, waste, and abuse” within the department.
He refuted claims that DOD intends to terminate all probationary personnel indiscriminately. “We are initiating reductions with the underperformers among our probationary staff because it is logical to prioritize the best among us,” Hegseth explained.
Removal of Senior Officials
The Trump administration is encountering legal opposition in its pursuit of reducing the federal workforce. Recently, a coalition of federal employee unions filed a lawsuit challenging the government’s strategy to terminate workers in their probationary period.
The unions have criticized OPM for overstepping its authority granted by Congress. “OPM lacks the statutory authority to make termination decisions for federal employees, except for its own staff,” the lawsuit states.
“Despite this lack of legal authority, OPM instructed federal agencies across the country, including in this District, to eliminate their probationary staff without consideration of relevant laws.”
The Trump administration is also in the process of replacing high-ranking officials at the Pentagon.
The administration is substituting the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, currently held by Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, Jr.
Other positions being replaced include the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff, held by Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General James Slife, respectively.
Additionally, nominations are in progress for the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Center for American Progress condemned the administration for these changes.
“This action undermines the command hierarchy, diminishes military readiness, and negatively impacts morale throughout the ranks. It sets a concerning precedent that could lead to further politicization of the military.”
Hegseth noted that the DOD is diligently working to achieve “peace through strength” by reestablishing deterrence, restoring the warrior ethos, and rebuilding the military.
“We are transparent with you. Our aim is for the American public—the taxpayers—to comprehend our decision-making processes,” he stated.
“With DOGE, we are focusing as much as possible on administrative overhead and areas that allow us to reinvest our resources more effectively,” he added.
On a different note, Trump expressed gratitude towards CQ Brown for his extensive military service spanning over 40 years.
“Today, I am pleased to announce my nomination of Air Force Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Caine is a seasoned pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant experience in interagency and special operations.”
