US Defense Department firings expected to start soon, officials say Pentagon agencies were instructed to provide lists of probationary employees by Tuesday. The Pentagon, with a budget exceeding $840 billion, employs approximately 950,000 civilians in roles ranging from administrative staff to engineers overseeing weapons programs. While service members remain exempt from budget cuts, civilian probationary workers face heightened uncertainty. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which has played a major role in restructuring the government under President Trump, has not commented on the matter. Musk’s involvement in Defense Department personnel decisions has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. His companies have received billions in government contracts, including a $1.8 billion agreement for spy satellite development and funding for the Starlink service used by Ukrainian forces. “There are redundancies and waste that must be addressed,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated while in Germany. ‘No one trusts that they won’t jack this whole thing up’
