Court order stalls SecDef’s workforce reductions as personnel freeze stalls work

Efforts to slash the Pentagon’s civilian workforce by more than 60,000 people are not proceeding as planned, thanks in part to a March 14 court order that could force the rehiring of thousands of probationary employees. Adding to the turmoil: a personnel freeze that has placed in limbo untold numbers of Defense Department civilians who are moving into new roles, and in some cases moving between countries. Managers are awaiting guidance on how to apply for exemptions.“Even in the