Washington (Agencies): The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a new round of voluntary resignations and retirements for its civilian workforce, though details remain scarce. In a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon stated that the initiative would begin “immediately” as part of an effort to reduce job cuts through voluntary participation.
The Pentagon employs over 900,000 civilians, but it is unclear how many will be eligible for the new program. While Hegseth emphasized that “exemptions should be rare,” the memo did not specify criteria for participation or deadlines for applications. The announcement follows a broader effort, led by Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency Service, to shrink the federal workforce.
In March, a senior defense official revealed that between 50,000 and 60,000 civilian jobs at the Defense Department are slated for elimination, targeting an overall reduction of 5% to 8% of the workforce. The first round of voluntary resignations, known as the “Fork in the Road” program, resulted in fewer than 21,000 employees opting to leave, far below the Pentagon’s target. Officials hope to further reduce staffing levels by eliminating approximately 6,000 positions per month through attrition.
Service secretaries and department leaders have been tasked with submitting a revised organizational structure by April 11, which will outline consolidated management roles and staffing adjustments. The Pentagon has not yet provided a timeline for when voluntary separation offers will be issued or when affected employees will be required to make a decision.