Pentagon plans to lay off 5,400 civilian employees next week

The Pentagon is set to lay off approximately 5,400 probationary civilian employees starting next week, as part of a strategy to reduce its workforce by 5-8% in alignment with President Trump's priorities. This initial round of firings follows a recent visit from officials of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who provided lists of employees targeted for reduction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports the cuts, arguing they will enhance operational efficiency and prioritize mission-critical roles. The layoffs will not affect uniformed military personnel and are part of a broader trend within the Trump administration to streamline federal agencies, including significant reductions at the IRS and other departments. The Pentagon is also implementing a hiring freeze while it assesses personnel needs. Acting Undersecretary of Defense Darin Selnick emphasized the importance of evaluating the workforce and eliminating redundancies to better serve taxpayers.