- The Department of Defense (DOD) is the latest target of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday, collecting lists of the military’s probationary employees.
- NASA is also facing cuts, with Acting Administrator Janet Petro having recently confirmed that DOGE staffers are reviewing the agency’s contracts.
- DOGE recently initiated similar cuts at the Energy Department, but reversed course after learning that probationary workers focused on nuclear weapons security were let go.
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The Department of Defense is the latest focus of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to The Associated Press, DOGE staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Feb. 18, collecting lists of the military’s probationary employees.
DOGE first announced the meeting with the Department of Defense on Friday, Feb. 14. The Washington Post then reported that DOGE had given the Pentagon until Tuesday to hand over a list of probationary employees. The Post reports that firings at the DOD could start as early as this week, but the AP reports some could be exempt.
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Leaders across the Defense Department reportedly provided lists of personnel they believe are mission-critical and should be exempt from dismissal. Officials tell the AP that those on the chopping block could include defense civilians who are still new to their jobs. Uniformed military personnel are exempt from the cuts.
The anticipated firings at the Pentagon mirror similar reductions at other federal agencies.
On Feb. 7, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that he is looking forward to working with Elon Musk. He added that the department needs “to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters).”
Looking forward to working with you on this @elonmusk. Need to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters). #PentagonAudit https://t.co/lGEH6jN9QB
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 8, 2025
The Pentagon is the federal government’s largest agency. It has about 950,000 civilian employees, including tens of thousands of military veterans, with including welders, administrative staff, engineers and more, overseeing highly specialized weapons programs. The Pentagon also oversees about 1.3 million active-duty service members and nearly 800,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel.
Cuts are coming to more than just the DOD
NASA is also facing massive cuts. According to NASA Watch, NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro confirmed members of DOGE had arrived at NASA and would be reviewing the agency’s contracts.
Casey Dreier, chief of space policy for The Planetary Society, told the Houston Chronicle that between the layoffs and the deferred resignation program, NASA will be left with roughly 16,000 employees, its smallest civil workforce since 1961, the year the Apollo program launched its first flight.
He told the Houston newspaper, “There’s nothing in these layoffs that is designed to make NASA more effective. It is taking the desire of a lower headcount as the most important thing.”
Energy Department reinstatements
DOGE recently initiated similar cuts at the Department of Energy, but was forced to reverse course after learning that probationary workers fired were focused on nuclear weapons security.
President Trump not concerned
In a press conference on Tuesday, President Donald Trump was asked if he had concerns about cutting workers focused on nuclear weapons security.
“I think we have to just do what we have to do,” Trump said. “And, you know, you’re going to … it’s amazing what’s been found right now. It’s amazing as some, if we feel that in some cases they’ll fire people and then they’ll put some people back, not all of them, because a lot of people were let go.”
Several states filed a lawsuit to freeze mass firings initiated by DOGE. But on Tuesday, a federal judge denied that injunction.
