WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that it will be letting go of around 5,400 probationary employees starting next week. Along with this, a hiring freeze will also be put in place.

According to officials, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) visited the Pentagon earlier this week and reviewed lists of employees who will be affected. The cuts will not include military personnel, as they are exempt. Probationary employees are usually those who have been on the job for less than a year and do not yet have civil service protection.

Darin Selnick, the acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, stated that the department aims to cut 5-8% of its civilian workforce to improve efficiency and focus on the President’s priorities.

The Trump administration has been removing thousands of federal employees who have fewer job protections. Just last weekend, many workers in federal health agencies were dismissed.

In addition, about 6,000 employees from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are expected to lose their jobs by the end of this week.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been a strong supporter of these workforce reductions. He recently posted on social media that the Pentagon must "cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters)." He has ordered an 8% cut to the defense budget each year for the next five years. Sources say that he has asked military leaders to identify $50 billion in budget cuts for the upcoming year to fund Trump’s key priorities.

Robert Salesses, who is currently performing the duties of deputy secretary of defense, stated that the Pentagon will stop unnecessary spending, including programs focused on climate change and bureaucratic expenses. The Defense Department is the largest government agency, employing more than 700,000 full-time civilian workers, according to a 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office.

This announcement comes as former President Donald Trump also revealed on Friday that he is firing Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown from his role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump is nominating retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine to take his place. Additionally, Defense Secretary Hegseth announced that Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force James Slife are also being removed from their positions. Brown was the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs, while Franchetti was the first woman to lead the Navy.