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A new Pentagon memo has instructed supervisors and HR officials to expedite the firing of employees who consistently fail to meet performance standards, directing managers to act “with speed and conviction.”
The guidance, titled “Separation of Employees with Unacceptable Performance,” was issued by Anthony Tata, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, one day before the government shutdown. The memo outlines an accelerated process for terminating poor performers and holds managers accountable for addressing underperformance across the Defense Department.
Under the new process, HR departments, in consultation with legal teams, have 10 days to review and advise on documentation supporting a dismissal. Employees are then given seven days to respond to a proposed termination notice, in line with collective bargaining agreements.
A deciding official must issue a written decision within 30 days of the proposed removal. Supervisors are required to provide written notice detailing specific performance deficiencies, missed deadlines, or failure to meet productivity targets.
'Act with speed and conviction'
The Washington Post first reported the memo, which effectively shortens the timeframe for employee exits across the department. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that the new policy “went into effect when it was signed” and said the department was “in the process of adapting to the new guidance.”
While senior lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services committees have yet to comment, the memo represents the latest phase of the administration’s efforts to tighten federal workforce management and increase accountability for performance.
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Broader reshuffle within the Defense Department
Since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took office under Donald Trump, the Pentagon has undergone a series of leadership changes. Several high-ranking officials, including Gen. C.Q. Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Francetti, former chief of naval operations, have been removed from their roles.
Hegseth has pledged to reduce the military’s officer corps by up to 20%. Speaking to hundreds of generals at Quantico, Virginia, in late September, he said the goal was to eliminate “decades of decay” and “clear the way for leaders to be leaders.”
“More leadership changes will be made,” Hegseth said. “Not because we want to but because we must. The sooner we have the right people, the sooner we can advance the right policies. Personnel is policy.”
A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked any additional mass layoffs until the government reopens, limiting the scope of the administration’s workforce reduction plans.
