Pentagon Firing 5,400 Probationary Workers Starting Next Week

The defense department is looking to cut 5 percent to 8 percent of its civilian workforce.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the press during a bilateral meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Feb. 7, 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Department of Defense (DOD) is set to fire thousands of workers as part of President Donald Trump’s push to make federal agencies more efficient and cut wasteful spending.

“The Department of Defense is re-evaluating our probationary workforce, consistent with the President’s initiative to reform the Federal workforce to maximize efficiency and productivity,” Darin Selnick, senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and performing the duties of under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a Feb. 21 statement.