Defense Workforce

Neglect the IC’s human capital at our peril

COMMENTARY | Taking a blunt approach to the Intelligence Community's workforce management strategy can produce dire repercussions, as it did prior to 9/11.

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.

Transgender troops ban, nationwide freeze argued in U.S. appeals court

The Trump administration's ban on transgender service members faced further judicial scrutiny in front of a panel of judges Tuesday ahead of a potential appeal to the Supreme Court.

There’s no more DEI at DOD, watchdog finds

But most of the roles were eliminated last year by an act of Congress.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Comply with the next ‘what you did last week’ email, Hegseth tells Pentagon civilians

Defense secretary’s memo aims to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s confusion and stress.

Defense Department police officers can’t get proper credentials nearly 2 years after Congress required them

An officer said they’ve run into issues questioning witnesses, registering for trainings and purchasing necessary equipment because they can’t easily prove they’re a federal law enforcement officer.

Breaking News

Pentagon to fire up to 61,000 workers, starting with 5,400 next week, says DOD

After the first round of firings, the Defense Department will launch a review intended to cut the civilian workforce by 5 to 8%, an official said.

As Defense preps for mass firings, Hegseth says a hiring freeze and more firings are coming

SecDef says a "reevaluation of our probationary workforce" will be followed by a wider dismissal of "redundancies" and "underperformers."