The Department of Defense approved more than 20,000 applications from civilian employees in the deferred resignation program, according to a senior defense official. The tally amounts to roughly one-third of the total number of civilian employees the department wants to cut.

The Pentagon aims to cut 50,000 to 60,000 civilian employees, a senior defense official said earlier this week. The cuts are part of the Department of Defense’s plan to reduce its workforce by 5-8%, the official said March 18.

The Pentagon said it will cut between 5% to 8% of a workforce that includes thousands of veterans -- through firings, resignations and a hiring freeze to meet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's goal.