The Defense Department reportedly will delay firing civilian probationary employees so that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel can learn how U.S. military readiness could be affected, CNN reported Friday.

Sources told CNN that the Office of Personnel Management is using a broad justification for the firings, arguing that the probationary employees no longer are needed.

In a video released Thursday, Hegseth explained the department’s planned terminations.

Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.