Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered the Pentagon to oust disloyal civilian workers — whom he likened to "debris" — as part of a broad effort to remove people who don't subscribe to President Donald Trump's agenda.
The Washington Post reported on a memo issued just days before the government shutdown started that removed key protections to make it easier to get rid of such workers.
The memo sparked concerns among the Pentagon workforce and circulated over the last week, The Post reported Tuesday. The new guidelines were defined in a memo titled "Separation of Employees with Unacceptable Performance” dated Sept. 30 and directed managers to move with "speed and conviction" to fire employees whose performance reviews were "unacceptable" last month.
"The civilian firings are part of a larger effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that aims to get rid of the 'debris' he claims is obstructing his mission to deliver on President Donald Trump’s agenda," The Post reported.
“The sooner we have the right people, the sooner we can advance the right policies. Personnel is policy,” Hegseth said in September during his speech to hundreds of top military brass at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
“The Department is in the process of adapting to the new guidance outlined in Under Secretary of War Tata’s memo from September 30th and we have nothing specific to share at this time,” the Pentagon said in a statement to The Post.
Sean Timmons, a managing partner at the firm Tully Rinckey, who specializes in federal employment and military law, described what could happen next.
“They are gutting federal employee protections significantly,” Timmons said.
The lessened employment protections are expected to decrease the Pentagon's workforce. Earlier this year, Hegseth was directed to cut about 60,000 people, about 8% of its workforce.
“They’re trying to use any excuse they can to get rid of people who are not with the program,” Timmons said.