Pentagon prepares for cuts
The Pentagon has submitted a list of probationary employees to the Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management, along with requests to exempt specific offices and people from being cut, multiple U.S. officials told ABC News.
Being considered mission-critical is one reason for suggested exemption, but veteran and military spouse status is also being taken into account, according to one of the officials.

The Defense Department has about 878,000 civilian employees in total, as many as 60,000 of whom are probational.
The process of identifying exemptions and cuts is underway, but it is unclear when employees could begin receiving notice they are being fired.
The Pentagon has referred requests for comment from ABC News to the White House and OPM.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez, Matthew Seyler and Will Steakin







