Pentagon's Civilian Workforce Cuts Lack Impact Assessment, GAO Finds
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report criticizing the Pentagon for not assessing the impact of significant reductions in its civilian workforce. In 2025, approximately 78,000 civilian positions were eliminated, representing about 10% of the workforce, as part of an initiative led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to streamline the federal workforce. The GAO report highlights that the Department of Defense (DoD) did not conduct the necessary analysis to understand the effects of these cuts on readiness, workload, and lethality. The report emphasizes the importance of such assessments to inform strategic human capital management and mitigate future challenges. The Pentagon has acknowledged the GAO's recommendations and is evaluating the findings. 
