Fri Feb 21 10:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Pentagon Braces for Mass Firings of Civilian Employees
**WASHINGTON, D.C. —** The Department of Defense (DoD) is preparing for widespread layoffs of civilian employees, potentially beginning as early as Friday, according to multiple sources within the department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the impending dismissals in a social media video, stating that the DoD is reevaluating its probationary workforce—those hired or promoted within the past year—in accordance with a January 20 directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Hegseth described the firings as the first step in a comprehensive review to eliminate redundancies and improve performance. He also announced an upcoming department-wide hiring freeze. While emphasizing a focus on retaining “the best and brightest,” Hegseth did not address how the planned dismissals align with existing laws prioritizing veteran hiring and offering protections to career federal employees.
The move comes as a surprise to many Pentagon civilians who, after being largely exempt from previous federal hiring freezes, expected similar treatment this time. However, the administration this week directed the DoD to conduct its own workforce reduction.
Across the department, commands are compiling lists of probationary employees, with varying levels of leniency in granting exemptions. Reports from multiple sources indicate widespread anxiety and plummeting morale among employees, who are being advised by their leadership to update resumes and save important documents. One account describes a lieutenant general breaking down in tears while relaying the news to Air Force personnel.
While the White House has not provided an official count of federal employees terminated under recent workforce reduction efforts, estimates suggest as many as 10,000 employees across various departments have already been let go. The DoD’s planned firings, combined with these previous actions, represent a significant restructuring of the federal workforce. The extent of the Pentagon’s layoffs remains unclear, with concerns arising over the potential impact on mission-critical roles and the implications for veteran and other protected employee groups.
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