The United States Defence Department is set to reduce its civilian workforce by at least five percent, starting next week.
This move follows President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to shrink the government payroll.
The Pentagon, which employs over 900,000 civilians, confirmed that more than 45,000 jobs could be affected.
The cuts will primarily target employees still on probation, aligning with the administration’s strategy to remove non-essential roles.
Darin Selnick, currently overseeing personnel and readiness, stated that the department expects to release around 5,400 probationary workers in the initial phase.
After that, a hiring freeze will be put in place while further assessments of staffing needs continue.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth explained in a video message that the decision is based on ensuring that only mission-critical employees remain.
He pointed out that the focus would be on removing underperforming staff.
Additionally, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will play a role in reviewing programs within the Pentagon.
The goal is to eliminate policies from the previous administration that do not align with the current government’s priorities.
This wave of job cuts is part of a broader effort by Trump’s administration to reshape the federal workforce, sparking legal challenges from multiple states and labor unions.
However, recent court rulings have not blocked the layoffs, allowing the Pentagon to proceed with its plan.