Under the direction of the Trump administration, probationary employees may face being terminated after defense agencies were instructed to provide a list of workers by Tuesday. This is part of the White House’s efforts to restructure and reduce the size of the federal government.
According to The Washington Post, sources indicate that many probationary employees will not be spared from the planned workforce cuts. The request for a list of probationary employees was made following the arrival of members from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Pentagon logo is seen ahead of a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
However, the Trump administration has exempted military personnel from sweeping budget cuts.
The possibility of terminations is being considered as DOGE has been involved in significant cost and personnel reductions in various parts of the federal government, including the recent dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
President Donald Trump is joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and his son, X Musk, during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11 in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
DOGE is led by Elon Musk, who may have several conflicts of interest in budgeting matters regarding the Pentagon. His companies have received billions of dollars in government contracts, including at the Defense Department.
Musk has led the charge to have DOGE aggressively slash wasteful spending under Trump. However, the cost-cutting group has faced scrutiny from Democrats over its access to federal systems, including the Treasury Department’s payment system, as well as moves to cancel federal contracts and make cuts at various agencies.
“This is a promise President Trump campaigned on. He is now delivering on it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told “Hannity” on Monday.
