April 2 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized a civilian workforce reduction at the Department of Defense, but some civilians continue to be hired.
"The Department of Defense will continue to hire the civilians that support the lethality of the Total Force," Jules Hurst III, DOD Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, announced Wednesday.
The Defense Department "will continue to recruit the great Americans who manufacture artillery shells, repair and refit our warships, maintain our fleets of military vehicles and equipment, teach the sons and daughters of service members and provide medical care to our warriors and their families," Hurst said.
The Defense Department's components and military departments received clarification that hiring should continue for supply systems, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety, recruiting and readiness.
Hurst provided a link to the Defense Department's information detailing the exemptions to the hiring freeze.
