ISTANBUL

The Pentagon has instructed managers to fire what it calls underperforming civilian employees with “speed and conviction,” according to a memo issued on Sept. 30, raising concerns over potential political misuse, especially as the government shutdown seems set to enter its second month.

Fox News reported on Tuesday that the memo, titled “Separation of Employees with Unacceptable Performance,” directed supervisors and HR professionals to “act with speed and conviction to facilitate the separation from Federal service of employees performing unsuccessfully.”

It also warned that managers will be held accountable for failing to address “poor employee performance.”

Some officials worry the broad guidance could target staff who do not support Trump administration policies, The Washington Post reported.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, thousands of federal employees have been summarily fired over alleged “underperformance,” despite recent positive performance reviews as well as established procedures to document failing to meet standards before any termination.

The administration has taken aggressive measures to put political loyalists in government positions normally filled by nonpartisan civil servants.

During the ongoing government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, nearly half of the Defense Department’s civilian workforce has been furloughed, and previous attempts to terminate furloughed employees were blocked by a federal court.

Normal procedures during a shutdown are for employee furloughs, with back pay once the government restarts, not firings.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has framed such moves as part of a mission to eliminate bureaucratic “debris,” saying last month at Marine Corps Base Quantico: “The sooner we have the right people, the sooner we can advance the right policies. Personnel is policy.”

The memo also revised federal evaluation criteria, adding language that gives managers greater discretion to act.

It said: “Every (Defense Department) position supports the mission, so deficiencies in any role can warrant strong action,” stressing that supervisors are empowered “to act decisively when performance undermines (department) objectives, reinforcing a culture of excellence.”

The Pentagon told The Washington Post it is “in the process of adapting to the new guidance … and we have nothing specific to share at this time.”