More than 50,000 probationary civilian employees across the Defense Department are facing potential firings, according to a US official and a source familiar with the matter. While the exact number of impacted individuals may be lower due to exemptions being considered, the Defense Department currently employs around 55,000 probationary workers. It remains uncertain how many employees will ultimately be exempted, with defense officials reportedly seeking exemptions for personnel in critical roles such as intelligence, cybersecurity, and foreign military sales.
With over 900,000 civilians working for the Defense Department, the impending firings are expected to commence as early as Friday. In addition to the probationary civilian employees, the Pentagon is also preparing for potential dismissals of senior military leaders and the implementation of new policies regarding transgender service members.
One defense official disclosed plans to issue guidance on discharging currently serving transgender troops as soon as this week. It is anticipated that existing transgender service members will likely be discharged, contrasting with the previous Trump administration's policy that allowed transgender individuals serving before the ban to continue their service.
The US official further revealed that the Pentagon is actively working to advance all three initiatives - the termination of senior military officials and probationary civilian employees, as well as the discharge of transgender troops - simultaneously. However, the successful execution of this comprehensive approach remains uncertain at this time.
