By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) - The Pentagon temporarily halted plans for mass firings that could have affected up to 50,000 civilian employees, because of legal and readiness concerns, CNN reported Friday.
The firings were temporarily halted pending a clearer understanding of its possible impact on the US's defense capability, according to two people who spoke to the news outlet.
The decision comes amid concerns that the reductions may violate a law that requires the defense secretary to conduct an analysis to ensure that workforce cuts do not compromise military readiness.
The law prioritizes mitigating risks to US defense capabilities over cost-cutting measures.
According to sources familiar with the matter, no such analysis was conducted before military leaders were instructed to compile lists of employees for termination.
US defense chief Pete Hegseth stated in a video on X on Thursday that the agency is first focusing on terminating lower-performing employees.
Defense officials, however, told CNN that the Office of Personnel Management -- the government’s human resources department -- is using broad justifications for the firings, raising questions about fairness and legality.
The layoffs were planned as part of President Donald Trump's administration's broader efforts to reduce government spending.