Pentagon Targets 60,000 Civilian Job Cuts in Workforce Reduction Plan

The Department of Defense is implementing voluntary resignations and a hiring freeze, but legal challenges have paused probationary employee terminations.

The Department of Defense plans to reduce its civilian workforce by 5% to 8%, cutting between 50,000 and 60,000 jobs in the coming months.
Nearly 21,000 employees have accepted voluntary resignation offers as part of the 'Fork in the Road' program, representing about one-third of the reduction goal.
A hiring freeze is expected to eliminate approximately 6,000 positions monthly through attrition, while plans to terminate 5,400 probationary employees are on hold due to legal challenges.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has assured that the cuts will not compromise military readiness, though concerns remain about administrative gaps and service members being reassigned to civilian roles.
Veterans, who make up a significant portion of the Pentagon's civilian workforce, are among those impacted by the reductions, but exact numbers remain unclear.