Pentagon to cut up to 60K civilian jobs, but fewer than 21K have voluntarily resigned

Approximately one-third of the Department of Defense (DOD) employees set to be dismissed are voluntarily departing through the deferred resignation program, a senior U.S. defense official revealed on Tuesday.

"Nearly 21,000 employees have submitted applications to participate in the deferred resignation program," the official stated during a media briefing. "These departures will be phased in over time, and we are currently in the process of placing the approved applicants on administrative leave."

As part of a broader effort to align its civilian workforce with national security priorities, the DOD is implementing a strategic reduction of 5-8% in its civilian personnel. This reallocation of resources aims to prioritize mission-critical functions.

The planned cuts translate to a workforce reduction of approximately 50,000 to 60,000 employees. Among those affected, up to 32,000 are military veterans currently serving in civilian roles within the department.

"We are carefully reviewing each case as we proceed with the workforce reduction," said the senior official, a former Army service member with over a decade of experience.

"Veterans bring invaluable skills and experience to the department, and their contributions are a key factor in our assessment of who remains in mission-critical roles," he added.

In addition to the deferred resignation program, the DOD is terminating select probationary employees and implementing a hiring freeze. These measures, initiated under the directive of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are designed to enhance lethality, readiness, and overall warfighting capability.

"As stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have a responsibility to ensure fiscal accountability while maintaining our mission focus," the official emphasized. "It is essential that our workforce is structured efficiently to meet national defense priorities."

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.