1. What is the Department of Defense?
2. List of Department of Defense Firings
   1. Probationary Employees
   2. Robert Storch

What is the Department of Defense?

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is a federal executive department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government related to national security and the armed forces. Its primary mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure the security of the United States. Established in 1947 through the National Security Act, the DoD unified the Department of War and the Department of the Navy, creating a more streamlined and centralized structure for defense operations.

The DoD oversees the five main branches of the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. It is also responsible for managing the National Guard and Reserve forces. In addition to military operations, the department manages defense-related intelligence, cybersecurity, research and development, and global military partnerships. The Secretary of Defense, a civilian appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, leads the department and serves as the principal defense policy advisor to the President.

Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the Department of Defense is one of the largest organizations in the world, both in terms of personnel and budget. It employs over 2.8 million people, including military service members, civilian staff, and contractors. The DoD plays a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, responding to international crises, and maintaining a forward military presence through its bases and deployments around the globe.

TL;DR: The U.S. Department of Defense is the part of the government that runs the military and keeps the country safe from threats.

List of Department of Defense Firings

Below is a list of Department of Defense personnel that have been fired by President Donald Trump or the Trump Administration, sorted by most recent:

Probationary Employees

Approximately 5,400 Probationary Employees – U.S. Department of Defense
Firings in February 2025

The U.S. Department of Defense has initiated a significant workforce reduction, beginning with the layoff of approximately 5,400 probationary employees. These individuals, typically hired or promoted within the last year and who have fewer civil-service protections, were the first to be let go. This initial phase is part of a broader effort to reduce costs and reassess staffing needs, with a temporary pause on new hiring to allow for further personnel analysis. The affected employees span several organizations within the department, including the Defense Health Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, the Navy, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

As of June 2024, the Department of Defense employed around 764,000 civilians, and officials have indicated that over 61,000 positions could ultimately be eliminated. While the exact number of layoffs per agency has not been made public, the initial wave of terminations has already occurred. Pentagon leadership, including acting personnel chief Darin Selnick, has framed the cuts as part of a cost-saving initiative, though detailed explanations have been limited, and questions about specific agency impacts have largely been redirected or unanswered.

TL;DR: The U.S. military fired 5,400 new civilian workers to save money, and thousands more could lose their jobs soon.

Robert Storch

Inspector General – U.S. Department of Defense
Fired on January 24, 2025

Robert Storch, a veteran government watchdog with a long career in federal oversight, served as the Inspector General for the Department of Defense from 2022 until his dismissal in January 2025. Prior to that, he held roles as the Inspector General of the National Security Agency and Deputy Inspector General at the Department of Justice. Storch holds degrees from Harvard University and Columbia Law School and was known for handling sensitive and complex oversight responsibilities.

In early 2025, Storch was one of several inspectors general removed by the Trump administration in a broad dismissal of federal watchdogs. His termination, which came without the 30-day advance notice to Congress required by law, prompted legal and public scrutiny. In a subsequent interview, Storch expressed concern about the potential erosion of independent oversight mechanisms designed to ensure accountability and transparency within government operations.

TL;DR: A top watchdog for the Pentagon, Robert Storch, was fired by Trump in January 2025 without warning, and he says that getting rid of independent government watchdogs like him is a bad idea for keeping the government honest.