DOGE getting lists of military's probationary workers from Pentagon

The Government Accountability Office found in 2023 that more than 7,00,000 full-time civilians were working for the Defense Department.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday, reviewing lists of the military’s probationary employees, according to U.S. officials.

However, it remains unclear whether all probationary personnel will be let go—some may be exempted due to the critical nature of their work. Each military service branch had until the end of the business day to identify its probationary employees.

The affected personnel include defense civilians who are still new to their jobs but not uniformed military personnel, who are exempt, according to four officials who spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The potential Pentagon cuts, first reported by The Washington Post, follow reductions at other federal agencies. In some cases, probationary employees with high-level security clearances, including staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), were dismissed despite their critical roles. However, the vast majority of fired NNSA staff were later reinstated.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has backed the department’s workforce cuts, stating on X last week that the Pentagon needs “to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters).”

A 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office found that more than 700,000 full-time civilians were employed by the Defense Department.

President Donald Trump has entrusted workforce reductions to Elon Musk, who holds billions of dollars in government contracts with the Pentagon.

However, in recent days, Trump has stated that Musk is not officially in charge of DOGE but is instead serving as his senior advisor. This clarification follows multiple lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority in reshaping federal agencies.