Under the direction of the Trump administration, defense agencies have been instructed to provide a list of probationary employees, signaling potential job cuts as part of a broader effort to reshape and downsize the federal government. A Washington Post report, citing insider sources, suggests that these probationary employees may not be exempt from the planned workforce reductions. This directive follows the arrival of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.
The Pentagon, which employs approximately 950,000 civilians, typically has probationary periods lasting one to three years, depending on the position. In addition to civilian staff, the Department of Defense also supports around 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and close to 800,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve. While civilian employees face potential layoffs, the Trump administration has excluded military personnel from these budget cuts.
The potential dismissals come as DOGE, spearheaded by Elon Musk, implements widespread spending and personnel reductions across the federal government. The agency's recent actions include the dismantling of USAID. Musk's leadership at DOGE has drawn scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest arising from his companies' substantial government contracts, including those with the Defense Department. Despite facing criticism from Democrats regarding its access to federal systems and contract cancellations, DOGE continues its aggressive cost-cutting initiatives under Trump's mandate, a move White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed as fulfilling a campaign promise.
