Cuts in the Pentagon's weapons testing department have halted work and caused the threat of layoffs at the Institute for Defense Analysis

In May 2025, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a 75% reduction in staff at the Pentagon office responsible for conducting live tests of American weapons systems, the Office of the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation (DOT&E). These cuts effectively halted all office work and paved the way for mass layoffs at the Pentagon—funded think tank, the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), which provides technical support and analytical support to DOT&E.

In a letter to IDA staff obtained by CBS News, the institute's president, retired General Norton Schwartz, announced the suspension of all IDA tasks for DOT&E and expressed concern about the loss of funding, which directly affects the staff and capabilities of the institute. IDA is currently assessing the impact of the cuts and has not yet carried out layoffs, but the situation remains critical.

DOT&E was established in 1983 by Congress to provide independent monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of weapons in real conditions. The law requires that no weapons system enter mass production without the approval of this office. However, Hegseth's decision, motivated by a desire to reduce "redundant" and "unnecessary" functions, led to a reduction in the number of employees from 118 to 30 civilian and 15 military, as well as the termination of contracts with external contractors, including IDA.

The cuts have drawn criticism from lawmakers and experts, who warn that reducing staff and resources could reduce the quality of independent assessments and slow down the process of testing new technologies, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. According to the former heads of DOT&E, the office in the current reduced composition will not be able to fully fulfill its obligations to Congress and ensure proper control over the safety and effectiveness of weapons.

Defense Minister Hegseth said the reorganization is aimed at improving efficiency and saving more than $300 million per year, as well as accelerating the supply of weapons to the troops. However, many experts believe that such measures may negatively affect the combat capability and security of the American armed forces in the long term.