The Pentagon announced on Friday its intention to terminate 5 to 8% of the military's civilian workforce, totaling approximately 950,000 employees. The initial phase will involve letting go of 5,400 probationary workers who do not hold 'mission-critical' roles. This move is part of an effort to enhance efficiency and realign the Department with the President's priorities and readiness goals.
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Darin Selnick, stated that the Department aims to reduce its civilian staff by 5-8%, which could mean a total of 47,000 to 76,000 individuals being laid off. The decision to pause the mass firings of civilian probationary employees was made to allow for a more comprehensive review of the potential impacts on military readiness.
Selnick mentioned that the first wave of terminations could occur as early as next week, with additional layoffs to follow as the Department evaluates its personnel requirements. The focus is on retaining only those employees whose roles are deemed essential to the Department's mission.
The temporary halt on the broader terminations was initiated after concerns were raised regarding the legality of the mass firings under Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Pentagon lawyers are conducting a thorough examination to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
As the Department moves forward with its plan to streamline the civilian workforce, the goal is to eliminate redundancies and enhance operational effectiveness. Taxpayers are expected to benefit from a more efficient allocation of resources within the Department.
