The DoD is pressing forward with its civilian workforce overhaul through largely voluntary means, aiming to reshape rather than abruptly reduce its 900,000-strong workforce. In a move outlined in March by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the DoD launched a workforce acceleration and recapitalization initiative that includes two rounds of a Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and a department-wide hiring freeze, with limited exceptions for critical roles. Officials say these steps are intended to align the workforce with current national defense priorities without resorting to immediate involuntary cuts.
According to Tim Dill, who is currently serving as the deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, most of the reductions so far have come from voluntary departures, including early retirements and administrative leave options under the DRPs. While the department has not ruled out future reductions in force, Dill emphasized that the goal has been to minimize disruption by giving employees options to exit on their own terms. However, requests to participate in the programs weren’t guaranteed—services could deny applications if losing the employee would impact mission-critical functions. The department is now analyzing data from the second DRP round and reviewing submitted plans from military departments to determine where further restructuring is needed. While the approach has avoided large-scale layoffs for now, it’s part of a broader realignment that may bring more changes in the months ahead.
Layoffs: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin plans to lay off 64 employees at its Andover, Massachusetts facility this summer, according to a recent WARN Act notice filed for the week of May 9. The layoffs are expected to take effect by July 5 and will primarily affect roles in engineering, product operations, and quality control. The company characterized the decision as part of its “annual business review,” but offered no further details about the underlying factors behind the cuts.
The Andover facility, located on Dascomb Road, is part of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division and houses the company’s GridStar Flow Battery development and production. While Lockheed operates two such facilities in Massachusetts, only the Andover site is impacted by this round of reductions. The Chelmsford location, which employs about 350 people, was not named in the layoff notice. These job cuts come amid a broader trend of workforce reductions in the area, with Symbotic LLC also set to lay off 400 employees in Andover by the end of June.
Hiring: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
The Trump administration’s latest homeland security budget proposal includes \$6.2 billion aimed at ramping up hiring at Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with a goal of bringing on 8,500 new employees over the next five years. The bulk of that—\$4.1 billion—is designated for hiring and training new Border Patrol agents, officers, and air and marine agents, with the remaining \$2.1 billion supporting signing and retention bonuses. While the Department of Homeland Security points to a 54% increase in applications to CBP this year, driven in part by new marketing efforts, the path from applicant to hire remains a long one. Recent years have seen average hiring times range from 300 to 600 days due to background checks, polygraphs, and training requirements.
Despite the proposed funding boost, the Congressional Budget Office raised concerns about whether CBP can realistically meet its hiring goals. A recent CBO analysis noted that while CBP has taken steps to streamline hiring—including polygraph modifications and limited waivers—pass rates remain low. Between 2018 and mid-2024, only 1.8% of applicants for Border Patrol agent roles and 2.5% of CBP officer applicants successfully completed the hiring process. Lawmakers have also questioned whether fixes to the polygraph process are enough, as CBP faces growing attrition and a looming retirement wave starting in 2027. While CBP has a strategic plan in place to address future staffing gaps, federal watchdogs say uncertainty remains high around how quickly—and effectively—the agency can translate new funding into boots on the ground.
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Opportunity to Watch
If you support the Department of Defense, don’t get too attached to your office location. In line with a broader return-to-office push, the Pentagon is aiming to cut its leased office space costs by 30% over the next 18 months. To make that happen, the department is actively tracking building occupancy to pinpoint underutilized properties and relocating more personnel to existing military installations. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment Robert Thompson described the effort as a necessary move to “eliminate waste and duplication” and make better use of DoD’s real estate assets.
The shift is part of the federal government’s larger in-person work policy, which has prompted agencies to rethink office needs. For the DoD, that means reducing reliance on rented office buildings and consolidating operations wherever feasible. Stay tuned—an office move could be on the horizon.
