Pentagon to cut 50,000-60,000 civilian jobs in major downsizing effort

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has announced plans to eliminate between 50,000 and 60,000 civilian positions, with fewer than 21,000 workers expected to depart in the coming months through a voluntary resignation initiative.

This major workforce reduction is part of an effort to reduce the department's civilian workforce by 5 per cent to 8 per cent, which currently exceeds 900,000 employees, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

To achieve these cuts, the Pentagon plans to eliminate around 6,000 positions each month by not replacing employees who leave. However, a major concern among officials is that military service members may be required to fill civilian roles left vacant by the hiring freeze.

Despite these concerns, the official, who requested anonymity, emphasised that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is determined to ensure that these cuts will not negatively impact military readiness. These reductions are part of a broader initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency Service, aimed at reducing the federal workforce and dismantling various US government agencies. 

The official confirmed that some military veterans will be affected by the civilian job cuts, though no exact number was provided, with estimates suggesting that thousands could potentially be impacted. The department's approach to workforce reductions includes three main strategies: voluntary resignations, firing probationary employees, and eliminating positions as part of the normal employee turnover. 

Pentagon and military officials are reviewing personnel on a case-by-case basis to ensure that critical national security roles are preserved. While the exact number of civilian employees who have requested the voluntary resignation, known as the “Fork in the Road” offer, remains undisclosed, the official noted that more employees had applied than had been approved. Most applications were granted, though some were rejected for national security reasons or to avoid a mass departure from a single office. Hegseth has also given military branch secretaries and Defense Department personnel leaders the authority to grant exemptions to the hiring freeze. 

On average, around 70,000 civilians are hired by the Pentagon each year, roughly 6,000 each month. It remains unclear how many of these positions will actually be affected by the freeze, as the services have significant discretion over which roles to include in the reduction. Plans to reduce probationary employees, which targeted approximately 5,400 out of 54,000 probationary workers, are currently paused due to ongoing legal challenges. Federal judges have ruled that many of the dismissed employees should be rehired, citing legal issues with the mass terminations. 

By Naila Huseynova