Pentagon plans to cut up to 60,000 civilian jobs as part of a strategy to realign resources with core national security missions, while facing legal challenges that have temporarily halted portions of the reduction plan.
Quick Takes
- The Pentagon is reducing its civilian workforce by 50,000-60,000 employees (5-8% of its 878,000 civilian workforce)
- Around 21,000 employees have already accepted voluntary resignations under the Deferred Resignation Program
- A hiring freeze is in place, blocking the usual intake of 6,000 new employees monthly
- Plans to terminate 5,400 probationary employees have been paused by a federal judge’s restraining order
- Up to 30,000 veterans could be affected by the workforce reduction
Pentagon’s Workforce Reduction Strategy
The Department of Defense is implementing a multi-pronged approach to reduce its civilian workforce by up to 60,000 positions. This represents between 5% and 8% of the Pentagon’s current 878,000 civilian employees. The initiative, directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aims to ensure resources are properly aligned with mission-critical functions and national security priorities. The workforce reduction strategy includes voluntary resignations through a Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), a department-wide hiring freeze, and evaluations of probationary employees for potential dismissal based on performance or conduct issues.
The voluntary resignation component has shown early success, with a senior defense official confirming that approximately 21,000 employees have had their applications approved under the DRP. These employees will continue receiving pay until October before officially separating from government service. Additionally, the Pentagon has implemented a hiring freeze that prevents the department from bringing on its usual 6,000 new employees per month, creating natural attrition that contributes to the overall reduction targets.
Pentagon to cut up to 60K civilian jobs, but fewer than 21K have voluntarily resigned https://t.co/H0G2L36ibS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 19, 2025
Legal Challenges and Implementation Hurdles
The Pentagon’s reduction plan has encountered significant legal obstacles, particularly regarding the termination of probationary employees. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that has paused the dismissal of approximately 5,400 probationary employees who were identified for separation based on performance concerns or misconduct. This legal challenge has complicated the department’s timeline for achieving its workforce reduction goals and forced officials to consider alternative approaches to reach the target numbers.
“The fact that someone was a probationary employee did not directly mean that they were going to be subject to removal,” explained a defense official.
While the Pentagon has been transparent about the methods being employed for the current phase of reductions, officials have been less forthcoming about contingency plans if voluntary measures fall short. A senior defense official noted, “There are other methods available to the secretary,” suggesting additional reduction strategies could be implemented if needed.
Impact on Veterans and Mission Readiness
A significant concern surrounding the workforce reduction is its potential impact on veterans, who comprise a substantial portion of the Pentagon’s civilian workforce. Defense officials have acknowledged that up to 30,000 veterans could be affected by the cuts.
“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.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has emphasized that the workforce reductions are being implemented with careful consideration to avoid negative impacts on military readiness. “The number sounds high, but I would focus on the percentage, a 5% to 8% reduction is not a drastic one,” a senior defense official noted, suggesting the cuts are manageable within the context of the department’s overall operations. The Pentagon has established exemptions from the hiring freeze for critical areas such as shipyards, depots, and medical facilities to ensure essential functions remain fully operational.
Fiscal Responsibility and National Security Focus
The Pentagon has framed the workforce reduction as part of a broader effort to be responsible stewards of taxpayer money while enhancing the department’s warfighting capabilities. Defense officials have emphasized that the initiative aligns with the core mission of national defense by reallocating resources toward high-priority areas. Secretary Hegseth has stated that these changes are intended to improve lethality, readiness, and overall mission effectiveness rather than simply reducing headcount for budgetary reasons.
As the Pentagon continues to navigate the challenges of implementing this significant workforce reduction, officials remain committed to achieving the target numbers while minimizing disruption to essential defense operations. The department is conducting case-by-case evaluations to ensure critical skills and expertise are retained, particularly in specialized fields where replacements would be difficult to find or train. The ultimate success of this initiative will depend on balancing workforce reduction goals with the imperative to maintain America’s military readiness and national security capabilities.
