The Defense Logistics Agency has started firing civilian employees who were hired, transferred, or promoted within the last year or two, Defense One has learned, as part of a larger Pentagon workforce-reduction effort announced late last month, then temporarily put on hold.
“Beginning today, certain probationary employees have been separated from the Agency,” Defense Logistics Agency leaders told “all hands” in a Monday message reviewed by Defense One. “Prior to these actions, J1 and leadership from each MSC/J-D Code carefully reviewed the affected personnel to ensure mission continuity. We recognize and appreciate the contributions of those impacted and have provided them with resources to assist in their transition from federal service. Our commitment to supporting the workforce remains steadfast, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available. At present, J1 has not received further details from the Department of Defense regarding subsequent personnel actions (e.g., reduction in force).”
Defense officials have said they aim to fire a total of 5,400 probationary employees as the first step in what will ultimately be a 5- to 8-percent reduction in the Pentagon’s roughly 764,000-member civilian workforce. The Trump administration has ordered executive-branch departments to develop plans by March 13 to slash their workforces through layoffs.
One DLA employee said they were fired just after 1 p.m. Monday, when their supervisor called to deliver the news. The call was followed by an email from DLA’s director of human resources.
“I was told to report to the building and I had 15 minutes to get my things and turn in my computer/cell phone,” the employee said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
They weren’t allowed to finish the workday.
“As we already know, these terminations were not performance-based. I am a veteran, I have received one group award and one on-the-spot award for my performance at the DLA, and my mid-year performance report was all 5’s—the best score you can receive,” the terminated employee said.
The Pentagon and DLA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Feb. 20, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced via video that the department is doing a “reevaluation of our probationary workforce.” Such workers have fewer civil-service protections.
In his announcement, Hegseth said the effort is in response to President Trump’s executive orders and a directive from the Office of Personnel Management. He said the dismissals would “start with poor performers” and then “individuals whose contributions are not mission-critical.”
The following day, defense officials said Hegseth was looking to fire some 5,400 probationary employees. But the effort was reportedly put on hold because no one had done the analysis required by law before making broad cuts to the defense workforce.
Pentagon leaders then scheduled the firings to begin on Feb. 28, according to documents filed in court. But the effort was once again put on hold when a U.S. district court judge found that OPM had ordered the mass dismissal illegally. The judge ordered OPM to rescind the order, and specifically instructed Trump-administration lawyers to convey his judgment to the Defense Department.
On Tuesday, OPM revised its memo so it no longer requires the firings. But individual departments and agencies continued to dismiss large numbers of probationary employees over the weekend. DOD began to follow suit on Monday.
As of March 3, more than 25,000 federal employees had been dismissed during the second Trump administration, according to a count by GovExec.
Next up, according to Pentagon leaders: a hiring freeze, a scrub of “underperformers,” and, ultimately, the dismissal of up to roughly 60,000 workers.
Eric Katz contributed to this report.
