Navy Launches Department-Wide Review That Could Cut Up to 20 Percent of Civilian Jobs
The Department of the Navy (DON) launched a sweeping review that could lead to significant job cuts to the civilian workforce.
The restructuring could lead to anywhere from five to 20 percent reductions in total civilian personnel according to a report in Federal News Network.
“We are currently in the analysis phase. This is a deliberate process, and we are committed to getting this right. No final decisions have been made. We will ensure Congress and our workforce are kept informed as the review progresses,” an unnamed Navy official told the publication.
Realigning the Workforce to the Navy’s Goals
The goal of the review is to align the DON’s structure with National Defense Strategy priorities and better support warfighters.
According to a memo from Navy Secretary John Phelan, the review will examine existing organizational structures and identify opportunities to consolidate offices, eliminate redundancies, and shift resources toward operational readiness.
“Based on initial efforts, as well as those currently underway, opportunity remains for additional reductions in specific areas as we finalize a departmental organization that will deliver warfighting readiness,” said Secretary Phelan in the memo.
The secretary also noted that he had earlier directed consolidation in various departments including the Offices of the Chief of Naval Intelligence, Chief of Naval Policy, Director of Administration, and Chief of Information.
Navy Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Benjamin Kohlmann is leading the review. An initial status report is due to Secretary Phelan sometime this month with workforce changes expected before the end of fiscal year (FY) 2026.
This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed military departments to reduce civilian personnel by five to eight percent. More than 60,000 civilian employees left the Department of Defense in the past year.