On Friday, February 21, 2025, the Pentagon announced plans to terminate approximately 5,400 civilian employees currently in their probationary period. This action is part of President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reduce the federal workforce. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Department of Defense aims to decrease its civilian workforce by 5-8% to enhance efficiency and align with the administration’s priorities. Following these initial layoffs, a hiring freeze will be implemented to assess personnel needs further. These measures have sparked significant backlash, including legal challenges from labor unions and concerns from lawmakers about potential disruptions to government services.