JOBS AND EDUCATION
Massive layoffs in the US: 60,000 jobs to be cut – check which department is leading the purge – The Times of India
The United States is facing a significant workforce reduction as the Pentagon plans to cut up to 60,000 civilian jobs. This drastic move is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to streamline government operations and reduce the size of the federal workforce. The layoffs will impact approximately 5% to 8% of the Pentagon’s workforce, signaling a large-scale reshaping of one of the largest government departments in the country.
The cuts come as the Pentagon seeks to trim down its budget and improve efficiency, following directives aimed at reducing federal spending and waste. With the reduction in force being implemented through a mix of resignations, voluntary departures, and a hiring freeze, the decision is expected to send shockwaves throughout the US government. This article delves into the details of the Pentagon’s workforce reduction plan and the potential ramifications for the broader US workforce.
The Pentagon’s plan: How many jobs will be cut?
As reported by Military.com, the Pentagon intends to cut between 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs as part of the Trump administration’s government efficiency push. The cuts will occur through a combination of firings, resignations, and a hiring freeze. In addition to these measures, some employees will leave voluntarily under a program known as the “Fork in the Road” offer, which has reportedly led to fewer than 21,000 workers taking advantage of the opportunity.
The Pentagon’s workforce reduction targets roughly 5% to 8% of the department’s civilian employees. This plan includes a hiring freeze that will eliminate approximately 6,000 positions each month for every month the freeze is in place. While many of the reductions are being carried out through voluntary measures, the Pentagon is also working to ensure that these cuts do not affect the department’s critical national security operations.
A closer look at the Pentagon’s workforce reduction process
According to a senior defense official quoted by Military.com, the Pentagon’s approach to achieving these cuts has involved a combination of voluntary resignations, the firing of probationary workers, and not replacing employees who leave the department on their own. This process is expected to result in an overall reduction of about 60,000 civilian positions over time.
The Pentagon has also made it clear that it will be prioritizing national security needs when making personnel cuts. While some employees may be laid off or incentivized to leave, others will be retained to ensure that essential functions continue smoothly. “The majority of the workforce reduction effort is voluntary measures, and the biggest component of that to date has been the deferred resignation program,” a senior defense official explained during an interview with Military.com.
Despite the hiring freeze, exceptions have been made for certain critical roles. For example, personnel positions in “shipyards, depots, and medical treatment facilities” have been granted blanket exemptions to continue operating without interruption. While the department has not disclosed the total number of exemptions granted, officials have noted that this is an ongoing and active process.
How the cuts are affecting civilian employees
The Pentagon’s massive cuts are expected to have a significant impact on civilian employees within the department. As reported by Associated Press, approximately 75,000 federal workers across the government are being impacted by the cuts through the “deferred resignation program,” which offers employees the chance to leave voluntarily in exchange for a buyout. In addition to this, roughly 24,000 probationary workers were initially let go before a court ruling halted the mass firings. This has caused some uncertainty about the future of the Pentagon’s personnel plans.
While some of the cuts are necessary for budget reductions, they also come with concerns about job security for those who remain. The Pentagon’s civilian workforce is a critical part of supporting the military, and many jobs are integral to maintaining the department’s efficiency. According to the same source, officials are being cautious to ensure that these cuts do not harm military readiness or other essential operations.
Legal challenges to the Pentagon’s cuts
The Pentagon’s efforts to reduce its workforce have not been without legal challenges. Federal judges have halted attempts to fire large numbers of probationary employees, ordering the government to rehire many workers who were let go under questionable circumstances. This legal pushback has complicated the Pentagon’s efforts to implement its workforce reduction plans, as the mass terminations have been criticized for not following proper procedures.
However, the Pentagon has emphasized that it is moving forward with its strategy to reduce the workforce through more voluntary means, including the resignation programs and the freezing of new hires. This approach is seen as more sustainable and less disruptive to ongoing operations. “We’re making sure that we don’t harm military readiness while still achieving the necessary cuts,” one senior defense official was quoted as saying.
What this means for the US government workforce
The Pentagon’s decision to cut 60,000 civilian jobs is part of a broader trend across the federal government to reduce its size and eliminate waste. As part of this effort, various agencies and departments are being asked to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. The Trump administration, through its Department of Government Efficiency Service, has been leading this charge.
The cuts are being made in line with President Donald Trump’s goal of reducing the size of the federal government and cutting unnecessary positions. While these reductions are likely to impact employees, they are part of a wider push to reshape the role of government and shift priorities within the federal workforce. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as the Trump administration presses forward with its agenda to downsize the US government.
Looking ahead: Potential impacts on national security and US education
As the Pentagon moves forward with its plan to cut civilian jobs, concerns are rising about the potential effects on national security and other critical functions. Many of the positions being eliminated support key aspects of military readiness, and reducing the workforce could have unforeseen consequences. There is also the potential for these cuts to impact related fields, including US education programs that rely on military and defense funding.
The US education sector is likely to see ripple effects from these layoffs as federal funding priorities shift. Some educational initiatives that support military families or workforce training programs could face challenges in the coming years if funding is reduced. Additionally, as the Pentagon reduces its civilian workforce, the need for military personnel to fill these positions could strain the readiness of the armed forces.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
NEET UG 2025 exam city intimation slip released on neet.nta.nic.in, admit card expected by May 1: Check direct link here – The Times of India
NEET UG city intimation slip 2025 out: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the Advance City Intimation Slip for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, a crucial step for over 23 lakh medical aspirants preparing for the undergraduate medical entrance exam. The slip, available as of April 23, 2025, informs candidates of their allotted exam city, enabling them to plan travel and accommodation logistics. The NEET UG 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, 2025, and the admit card is expected to be released by May 1, 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates, exam details, and more.
The NEET UG 2025 City Intimation Slip was made available on the official NTA website, neet.nta.nic.in, on April 23, 2025, earlier than the anticipated date of April 26. Candidates can download the slip by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The slip specifies the exam city but does not include the exact exam center address, which will be detailed in the admit card. This advance notification helps candidates, especially those assigned centers far from home, arrange travel plans well in advance. The exam will be conducted across 552 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, totaling 566 exam cities, with approximately 5,000 exam centers.
Admit Card Release Date
The NEET UG 2025 admit card is slated for release on or before May 1, 2025, as confirmed by the NTA. Candidates can download it from neet.nta.nic.in using their application number and date of birth or password. The admit card is a mandatory document for exam entry, containing critical details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam center address, reporting time, and exam day guidelines. Aspirants are advised to verify all details on the admit card and contact the NTA helpline immediately if discrepancies are found. The admit card will also be emailed to candidates’ registered IDs.
Exam Timings, Shifts, and Mode
NEET UG 2025 will be conducted on May 4, 2025, in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST, with a duration of 3 hours. Candidates must report to their exam centers by 1:30 PM, as late entries will not be permitted. The exam will be held in pen-and-paper (offline) mode, featuring 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). Unlike previous years, the 2025 exam reverts to the pre-Covid format, eliminating optional questions. The test will be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Assamese.
Direct link to download the NEET UG city intimation slip 2025
Approximate Participation
NEET UG remains India’s largest undergraduate medical entrance exam, with an estimated 23 lakh candidates expected to participate in 2025. This number is slightly lower than the 24 lakh registrations in 2024, though the NTA has not released official figures. The exam facilitates admission to over 1 lakh MBBS seats, 27,618 BDS seats, 52,720 AYUSH seats, and other medical courses across 612 medical and 315 dental colleges in India, including 1,899 AIIMS and 249 JIPMER seats.
Key Instructions for Candidates
Candidates must carry a printed admit card, a valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN card), and a passport-sized photograph matching the one uploaded during registration. The city intimation slip is not a substitute for the admit card and cannot be used for exam entry. Aspirants are advised to visit their exam center a day prior to familiarize themselves with the location and avoid last-minute hassles. Prohibited items include electronic devices, and candidates must adhere to the NTA’s dress code and exam day guidelines.
Next Steps
Following the exam, the NTA will release provisional answer keys in the fourth week of May 2025, with results expected by June 14, 2025. Counseling for All India Quota and state quota seats will commence in July 2025, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state authorities, respectively. Candidates are urged to stay updated via neet.nta.nic.in and prepare diligently for the exam, which remains a gateway to prestigious medical institutions across India.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
Tennessee legislature adjourns after passing DEI restrictions – The Times of India
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model. Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.
From representation to “qualification”
Lawmakers also gave final approval to a companion bill barring public agencies, including higher education institutions, from making hiring decisions based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, sex, or age. Instead, agencies must rely solely on “merit,” “qualifications,” veteran status, or lawful eligibility. The law repositions Tennessee firmly within a growing conservative ideology that views demographic consideration as antithetical to fairness.
A policy echo of Trump-era ideology
The Tennessee legislation is not occurring in a vacuum. It mirrors initiatives launched under President Donald Trump, whose administration sought to link the distribution of federal funds to the exclusion of DEI policies. That precedent laid the groundwork for state-level action—Tennessee now becomes a key player in actualizing that agenda.
Boards to lose identity-based representation
Beyond hiring practices, the new laws strike directly at identity-based governance structures. Requirements that certain public boards maintain racial, gender, or age representation have been deleted. Critics argue this strips underrepresented communities of vital political visibility; proponents counter that appointments should be blind to personal characteristics and based on perceived competence alone.
Opposition raises alarm bells
Civil rights advocates and education leaders have condemned the bills, warning they will reverse decades of effort to correct systemic inequalities. Others fear the chilling effect these moves could have on recruitment, retention, and morale within public service sectors.
Higher education in the crosshairs
Public universities—long champions of diversity offices and equity initiatives—are now under pressure to restructure or eliminate these arms. The University of Tennessee system and others will be forced to reexamine staff positions, student programs, and scholarship criteria that once relied on DEI frameworks.
A new conservative doctrine emerges
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model.
DEI programs dismantled statewide
Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
AIIMS INI SS July 2025 registration underway, window closes on May 6: Check direct link to apply and important details here – The Times of India
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has opened the online application window for the Institute of National Importance Super-Speciality Test (INI SS) July 2025 session. Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official website, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in, on or before May 6, 2025.
The entrance examination will be conducted on May 24 for admission into Doctorate of Medicine (DM)/Master of Chirurgiae (M.Ch.) courses at leading medical institutions including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).
AIIMS INI SS 2025: Eligibility criteria and age limits
To apply for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025, candidates must fulfill the following eligibility conditions:
- Must possess MD/MS or DNB in a relevant specialty.
- Must complete the qualifying degree by July 31, 2025.
Upper age limit as on July 1, 2025:
Age relaxations:
- OBC: 3 years
- SC/ST: 5 years
- Ex-Servicemen/ECOs: 5 years
AIIMS INI SS 2025: How to apply
Candidates can follow the steps given here to complete the application process:
Step 1. Visit the official portal, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in
Step 2. Click on ‘New Registration’ for fresh applicants.
Step 3. Fill in the registration form and personal details carefully as guided by the portal.
Step 4. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
Alternatively, candidates can click here to submit their applications for AIIMS INI SS 2025.
AIIMS INI SS 2025: Important dates
Candidates must adhere to the official schedule to avoid missing any deadlines. Key dates for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025 session are:
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