Sat Feb 22 06:24:17 UTC 2025: ## Pentagon Cuts Thousands of Jobs, Implements Hiring Freeze Amidst Leadership Shakeup

**Washington, D.C. –** The Pentagon announced sweeping job cuts on Friday, impacting 5,400 probationary civilian workers. A hiring freeze will also be implemented, marking a significant restructuring within the Department of Defense. This action follows a visit from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this week, who provided the Pentagon with lists of employees slated for termination. Uniformed military personnel are exempt from these cuts.

The reductions are expected to result in a 5-8% decrease in the civilian workforce, according to Acting Undersecretary of Defense Darin Selnick. The goal, Selnick stated, is to improve efficiency and refocus the department on President Trump’s priorities, as well as restoring readiness within the armed forces.

These cuts come amidst a broader wave of federal job losses under the Trump administration. Approximately 2,000 employees were let go from the U.S. Forest Service, with 7,000 more expected to be dismissed from the Internal Revenue Service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly supported these measures, advocating for streamlining the Pentagon’s structure.

Adding to the turmoil, President Trump abruptly fired Air Force General CQ Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown, only the second Black general to hold this position, was dismissed as part of what appears to be a campaign to remove leaders perceived as supportive of diversity and equity initiatives within the military. This unexpected firing is sure to create significant disruption within the Pentagon. Hegseth has also directed a review to identify $50 billion in potential budget cuts for next year, approximately 8% of the military’s budget, to reallocate resources towards Trump’s policy objectives. The Pentagon is the largest government agency, employing over 700,000 full-time civilian workers.

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