The Pentagon announced on Friday that it will cut 5,400 civilian jobs next week as part of President Donald Trump’s federal workforce reduction strategy. This move follows widespread concerns and backlash from voters and lawmakers regarding the administration’s aggressive approach to downsizing government agencies.
The job cuts are part of a broader restructuring effort that could see the Defense Department's civilian workforce reduced by 5% to 8%. The announcement comes amid a larger overhaul of government operations, spearheaded by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which has already resulted in over 20,000 layoffs across multiple federal departments.
Despite legal challenges, federal courts have largely allowed the dismissals to proceed. On Friday, a federal judge permitted the administration to place more than 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development on leave. However, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to immediately fire the head of the Office of Special Counsel, an independent oversight body.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also confirmed a major reshuffling, ordering 1,500 staff members to be relocated from Washington, D.C., to regional offices across the country.
Meanwhile, criticism has mounted over the administration’s handling of layoffs in critical sectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it would reinstate workers overseeing health programs for 9/11 survivors and reinstate research contracts related to emergency responder cancer rates.
The workforce reduction has sparked controversy among both Democrats and Republicans. At a public event in Ohio, Republican Representative Troy Balderson expressed concern over Trump’s executive orders, calling them "out of control." However, he later reaffirmed his support for the president’s cost-cutting agenda.
Most of the terminated employees were considered probationary, having joined the federal workforce within the past year. Government figures indicate that nearly half of those affected reside in states that voted for Trump in the 2024 election.
Amid growing public scrutiny, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s actions, stating that the job cuts were necessary to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse."
Additionally, concerns over Musk’s involvement in government affairs have surfaced, particularly regarding his access to sensitive data. In response, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has imposed restrictions on a Musk associate to limit access to taxpayer information.
As unions and lawmakers challenge the administration’s methods, the debate over the future of federal employment is expected to intensify in the coming months.