Pentagon agencies were instructed to provide lists of probationary employees by Tuesday, raising concerns among officials about widespread firings. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which has played a major role in restructuring the government under President Trump, has not commented on the matter. Neither OPM nor DOGE responded to media inquiries.
The Pentagon, with a budget exceeding $840 billion, employs approximately 950,000 civilians in roles ranging from administrative staff to engineers overseeing weapons programs. While service members remain exempt from budget cuts, civilian probationary employees—who typically serve a one- to three-year trial period—face heightened uncertainty, reported the Washington Post.
Elon Musk’s growing influence in Pentagon affairs Musk’s involvement in Defense Department personnel decisions has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. His companies have received billions in government contracts, including a $1.8 billion agreement for spy satellite development and funding for the Starlink service used by Ukrainian forces.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently confirmed DOGE’s presence at the Pentagon and expressed support for Musk’s efforts. “There are redundancies and waste that must be addressed,” Hegseth stated while in Germany. He acknowledged that billions could be redirected toward combat troops instead.
Concerns over morale and execution of cuts Officials within the Pentagon have raised concerns about how dismissals will be handled, especially for employees working on classified programs. Some probationary employees cannot simply be terminated; they must undergo security debriefings before leaving their posts, according to the Washington Post.
Similar efforts in other agencies have resulted in confusion. Last week, layoffs in the Energy Department were briefly halted after concerns arose regarding their impact on nuclear defence programs. Defence officials fear that a lack of clear guidance could lead to similar disruptions.
One military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that his intelligence unit includes five probationary employees performing vital national security work. Whether they will be exempted remains unclear. “Morale is not great,” the officer admitted. “No one trusts that they won’t jack this whole thing up.”
As the Trump administration continues its push for sweeping government restructuring, the full impact of DOGE-led cuts remains to be seen.
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