The Pentagon has implemented new rules allowing faster termination of civilian employees deemed underperforming, following a directive from Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Anthony Tata. The September 30 memo, issued one day before the government shutdown, instructed supervisors and human resources officials to act with “speed and conviction” when separating federal workers who fail to meet performance standards.
Managers are warned they will be held accountable for not addressing poor performance. The memo, which became public Tuesday, removes several longstanding job protections and directs officials to use “Douglas Factors” — federal evaluation criteria allowing flexibility to fire workers swiftly. “Deficiencies in any role can warrant strong action,” the memo states.
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce the federal workforce during his second term. Nearly half of the Defense Department’s 334,900 civilian employees were furloughed during the shutdown. Critics fear the new policy could be used to remove staff perceived as disloyal to the administration’s agenda.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed for a “warrior ethos” culture across the military and civilian ranks. Pentagon officials have not disclosed how many employees have been affected since the directive took effect.
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