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.
Defense
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.
Defense
The Pentagon is asking 364 fired probationary employees to come back
So far, about 65 have been reinstated, according to a Wednesday court filing.
Defense
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.
Defense
Pentagon hiring freeze holds previously approved job moves hostage
Civilians have sent their belongings overseas but are trapped at their duty stations.
Defense
Pentagon’s efforts to slash civilian workforce continue to cause confusion
Most civilian promotions and internal transfers are on hold pending new guidance.
Defense
‘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.
Defense
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.
Defense
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
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
Defense
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.
Workforce
As Defense preps for mass firings, Hegseth says a hiring freeze and more firings are coming
SecDef says a "reevaluation of our probationary workforce" will be followed by a wider dismissal of "redundancies" and "underperformers."
Workforce
Broad exemptions to Trump's federal hiring freeze begin to take shape
The Defense Department is indicating it will allow hiring to continue for all civilian positions.
Pay & Benefits
No expansion of military IVF coverage included in the final defense policy bill
Congress is expected to vote to approve the package during the next two weeks, before both chambers leave town for the holiday break.
Defense
Pentagon puts a dent in cyber workforce vacancies
Nearly a quarter of the Defense Department’s cyber jobs went unfilled last year.
Workforce
Intelligence agencies are attracting new talent, but do they have the career development systems to keep them?
Between balancing recruiting fresh, digital-literate talent and upskilling an experienced workforce, agencies in the Intelligence Community also need to ensure they are updating their career development processes to retain both, says former DOD CIO John Sherman.
Oversight
Watchdog wants more transparency on DOD’s reprogramming of military pay funds
While GAO did not find that the realignment decreased military benefits, it did urge the Pentagon to provide more information on the funding to Congress.
Defense
Senator demands more veteran access to VA's military sex trauma resources
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., expressed his ongoing concerns with the lack of coordination between the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments in making servicemembers aware of their eligibility for VA services like confidential counseling.
Defense
Move Guardsmen into the Space Force? You'll lose most of them instead
COMMENTARY | Air Force leaders don’t understand why people serve in the National Guard.
Defense