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Pentagon’s Efforts to Reduce Workforce Face Obstacles
The Pentagon’s initiative to reduce its civilian workforce by over 60,000 personnel is encountering significant challenges. Judicial decisions and inadequate communication have contributed to a climate of uncertainty, especially with a recent court ruling potentially mandating the reinstatement of a large number of probationary employees.
Beyond the legal complications, many Defense Department employees are left in limbo, with transitions to new roles and overseas relocations stalled as supervisors await instructions on exemption applications needing approval from the defense secretary’s office.
“There’s confusion and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty among the staff,” remarked one civilian, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, in a discussion with Defense One.
Initially, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth limited exemption approvals for the hiring freeze to himself. This freeze impacted not only new hires but also existing staff whose transfers or promotions had been previously sanctioned.
An updated memorandum recently issued indicates that military departments can now grant exemptions, with oversight from the personnel and readiness office. For cases outside of this scope, direct approval from the personnel and readiness office remains necessary.
Hegseth has also issued general exemptions for military facilities such as shipyards and medical treatment centers. However, it remains unclear how long it could take to finalize these exemptions, as officers could not specify when further guidance on the application process would be made available.
Currently, some civilians are facing challenging living situations, residing in hotels with their families while their belongings are in transit to foreign locations. They await updates on the rescheduling of canceled flights to their designated duty stations.
“The secretary appreciates the dedication shown by these individuals in their roles,” a defense official stated concerning the affected civilians. “We recognize the uncertainty they are experiencing and encourage continuous communication with their hiring authorities to advocate for their unique circumstances in the consideration for exemptions.”
In parallel developments, a recent ruling may compel the reemployment of thousands of probationary workers, as a court has determined that 18 federal agencies, though the Defense Department is not among them, must reinstate their terminated staff.
“While I cannot comment on specific ongoing litigation, the department is dedicated to adhering to all relevant court orders throughout this process,” the official added.
Originally, the Pentagon anticipated the termination of 5,400 probationary employees, though the exact number of those let go remains undisclosed.
Voluntary Resignation Program Shows Promising Results
In contrast, the voluntary resignation initiative rolled out by the Department of Government Efficiency—part of a White House advisory board—has reportedly seen more success. Approximately 21,000 applications from department employees have been accepted, although the official did not disclose the total number of applicants.
While some individuals were deemed too vital for participation in this program, many others are still awaiting responses well beyond the application deadline.
“The DOGE initiative was promising for us, but our DOD processes are sluggish, leaving employees in the dark. We’re still in a state of uncertainty,” shared a civilian weeks after applying for the Deferred Resignation Program. “Currently, we have no idea if our applications to retire or resign have been processed.”
The official clarified that these personnel changes are part of a broader strategy to meet the department’s goal of reducing staff by 5 to 8 percent. They aim to achieve this through workforce reductions, voluntary departures, and by maintaining a hiring freeze that traditionally results in the onboarding of around 6,000 new employees each month.
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