Pentagon Backs Resignations as It Works to Cull 60,000 Civilians

March 18, 2025, 6:37 PM UTC

The Defense Department has approved close to 21,000 deferred resignations from civilian employees under the Trump administration’s “fork- in-the-road” offer, according to a senior defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer details. The Pentagon aims to reduce its civilian workforce by between 50,000 and 60,000, the defense official added.

The Pentagon approved most of those civilian employees who raised their hand for the deferred resignation program, which pays people on administrative leave until the end of the fiscal year—Sept. 30—or in some instances until the end of the calendar year if the employees were close to retirement, ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Government or Log In to keep reading:

Learn About Bloomberg Government

Providing news, analysis, data and opportunity insights.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.