Defense
Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers
That’s more than other military branches, and it means the service will end the year with nearly 1,000 fewer people than expected.
Pentagon accepts Qatari jet to use as Air Force One
The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the luxury jet.
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Trump’s Pentagon-personnel nominee wants to curb DOGE data access
But Anthony Tata, a retired Army general, couldn’t outrun past inflammatory and social media posts during his confirmation hearing.
Hegseth orders elimination of 10% of general, admiral jobs
Memo also orders the elimination of one-fifth of 4-star posts. No deadline, few guidelines given for shakeup.
‘Gimmicks’: GOP lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘trillion-dollar’ defense-spending proposal
White House claims of a 13% increase rest on unusual maneuvers, not a higher DOD budget line.
Hegseth issues Army a lengthy to-do list
The Wednesday memo includes deadlines for weapons and tech, orders to streamline units and organizations, and more.
Putting SPACECOM HQ in Alabama would have saved Pentagon $426 million, DOD IG says
But then-SPACECOM commander Gen. Dickinson was worried the move would result in significant personnel losses.
‘What a mess for me and many others’: DOD’s murky hiring freeze has civilians in limbo
Some employees are still living in hotels, their belongings shipped overseas.
Hegseth gives Defense leaders less than two weeks to lay out staffing cuts, changes
A Friday memo opens a new phase in the Defense secretary’s hurried effort to shrink the department's workforce.
Judge orders agencies to preserve discussions in airstrike Signal chat
The directive targets communications in a Signal chat with top intelligence and national security officials between March 11 and March 15 that discussed strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to that chat.
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Intelligence officials remain defensive on Signal debate
House testimony followed release of full group-chat transcript — including attack times and weapons.
DOD cuts $580M in programs, contracts and grants
The latest round of Pentagon spending cuts — which include a delayed HR software program — brings the department’s running total of eliminated programs to $800 million since the start of the Trump administration.
The Pentagon is asking 364 fired probationary employees to come back
So far, about 65 have been reinstated, according to a Wednesday court filing.
Trump ban on transgender troops blocked in court
A federal judge criticized the Trump administration for lack of data proving claims made in a Jan. 27 executive order.
Pentagon hiring freeze holds previously approved job moves hostage
Civilians have sent their belongings overseas but are trapped at their duty stations.
Pentagon’s efforts to slash civilian workforce continue to cause confusion
Most civilian promotions and internal transfers are on hold pending new guidance.
‘5 bullet points’ email now a weekly task for Pentagon civilians
A short explanation of recent achievements is due every Tuesday, SecDef says in additional guidance.
Exclusive
Pentagon is placing probationary employees on leave in advance of mass firings
The terminations are expected within weeks under plans to fire nearly one-tenth of DOD’s 55,000 “probies.”
At least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers
The Defense Logistics Agency has begun dismissing its share of the Defense Department’s 5,400 targeted employees.
