Defense
‘What a mess for me and many others’: DOD’s murky hiring freeze has civilians in limbo
Some employees are still living in hotels, their belongings shipped overseas.
Hegseth gives Defense leaders less than two weeks to lay out staffing cuts, changes
A Friday memo opens a new phase in the Defense secretary’s hurried effort to shrink the department's workforce.
Judge orders agencies to preserve discussions in airstrike Signal chat
The directive targets communications in a Signal chat with top intelligence and national security officials between March 11 and March 15 that discussed strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to that chat.
Intelligence officials remain defensive on Signal debate
House testimony followed release of full group-chat transcript — including attack times and weapons.
DOD cuts $580M in programs, contracts and grants
The latest round of Pentagon spending cuts — which include a delayed HR software program — brings the department’s running total of eliminated programs to $800 million since the start of the Trump administration.
The Pentagon is asking 364 fired probationary employees to come back
So far, about 65 have been reinstated, according to a Wednesday court filing.
Trump ban on transgender troops blocked in court
A federal judge criticized the Trump administration for lack of data proving claims made in a Jan. 27 executive order.
Pentagon hiring freeze holds previously approved job moves hostage
Civilians have sent their belongings overseas but are trapped at their duty stations.
Pentagon’s efforts to slash civilian workforce continue to cause confusion
Most civilian promotions and internal transfers are on hold pending new guidance.
‘5 bullet points’ email now a weekly task for Pentagon civilians
A short explanation of recent achievements is due every Tuesday, SecDef says in additional guidance.
Exclusive
Pentagon is placing probationary employees on leave in advance of mass firings
The terminations are expected within weeks under plans to fire nearly one-tenth of DOD’s 55,000 “probies.”
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At least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers
The Defense Logistics Agency has begun dismissing its share of the Defense Department’s 5,400 targeted employees.
Comply with the next ‘what you did last week’ email, Hegseth tells Pentagon civilians
Defense secretary’s memo aims to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s confusion and stress.
Defense Department police officers can’t get proper credentials nearly 2 years after Congress required them
An officer said they’ve run into issues questioning witnesses, registering for trainings and purchasing necessary equipment because they can’t easily prove they’re a federal law enforcement officer.
Breaking News
Bloodbath: Joint Chiefs chair, CNO, Air Force vice chief, three top JAGs to be replaced
Trump, Hegseth announce plans to oust several of the military’s top officers amid larger DEI purge.
Breaking News
Pentagon to fire up to 61,000 workers, starting with 5,400 next week, says DOD
After the first round of firings, the Defense Department will launch a review intended to cut the civilian workforce by 5 to 8%, an official said.
Lawmakers to DOGE: Use a scalpel, not a sledgehammer at the Pentagon
Cutting first and asking questions later could hurt national security, House Armed Services committee members say.
Hegseth stands up anti-DEI task force
Some of the task force’s targets, like quotas and discriminatory promotion policies, don’t exist.
Tracking Trump’s national-security conflicts of interest
Experts say the businessman-turned-president has even more entanglements this time around.
‘I know what I don’t know,’ defense secretary pick says at confirmation hearing
Pete Hegseth faced questions about his inexperience and fitness as a leader.
