A senior defense official announced on Tuesday that the Defense Department plans to cut approximately 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs. Out of the 21,000 workers who volunteered to resign, only a portion will be leaving in the coming months. The department aims to achieve a 5% to 8% reduction in its civilian workforce of over 900,000 by eliminating about 6,000 positions each month through attrition rather than filling vacancies left by departing employees.
There is a concern that military personnel may be required to fill the vacancies left by civilian employees. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is committed to ensuring that these cuts do not impact military readiness. These reductions are part of a broader initiative led by the Department of Government Efficiency Service, which includes Elon Musk, a prominent advisor to former President Trump, to streamline the federal workforce and restructure U.S. government agencies.
