Washington (Agencies): The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the number of civilian employees who have left since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated workforce cuts in February 2025, aiming to shed 5 to 8 percent of personnel—or approximately 60,000 employees.
To achieve these reductions, the Department of Defense (DoD) first froze hiring, then began laying off hundreds of probationary employees while offering a deferred resignation program, allowing workers to quit but continue receiving pay through September 2025. The Pentagon also extended early retirement incentives to longtime employees.
Despite these measures, officials refuse to disclose how much the civilian workforce has actually shrunk. A defense official, speaking to Defense One on condition of anonymity, stated that workforce changes will be reflected in the FY26 budget proposal, but declined to specify how many employees have been approved for resignation or early retirement.
The White House released its budget proposal last Friday, yet the Pentagon’s civilian workforce reductions were absent from the documents. However, officials confirmed that a more detailed defense budget is expected later this month, leaving limited time for the administration to finalize decisions related to workforce restructuring.
In an effort to streamline operations, Hegseth launched the Workforce Acceleration & Recapitalization Initiative, soliciting proposals from military components to shrink organizations efficiently. His March 28 memo emphasized a top-down approach to creating a leaner force, while a follow-up memo on April 7 called for hierarchy flattening, team consolidations, and operational speed.
Proposed measures include eliminating redundant managerial roles, absorbing offices with no meaningful output in five years, and reorganizing departments to enhance efficiency. Military leaders submitted their final suggestions by the May 24 deadline, with decisions now pending as the comprehensive review continues.