In an unusual move that signals a deepening entanglement between national defense and domestic immigration enforcement, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is intensifying pressure on Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees to volunteer for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration missions. A recent memo, widely circulated within the DoD, explicitly encourages supervisors to actively promote this detail program, raising questions about its implications for both departments and the federal workforce.
The Mandate from the Pentagon
Dated February 19, a memo titled “Department of War Guidance to Encourage Support to the Department of Homeland Security Southern Border and Internal Immigration Enforcement Missions” was disseminated to thousands of civilian DoD personnel. In it, Secretary Hegseth articulated a clear expectation: “every supervisor to encourage their civilian employees to volunteer. Leadership must continue to promote this detail program and educate their civilian employees on its importance.”
This directive builds upon a June 2025 memo where Hegseth first authorized such civilian details to DHS. However, the latest communication suggests a significant escalation in the urgency and emphasis placed on this initiative, moving beyond mere authorization to active encouragement and, implicitly, a degree of expectation from leadership.
Behind the Scenes: Employee Concerns and Workforce Strain
While the DoD, in an August 2025 statement, claimed nearly 500 civilians had already signed up, the reality on the ground appears more nuanced. An Army civilian employee, speaking anonymously to WIRED due to fears of reprisal, revealed a palpable increase in pressure, particularly within the supervisory ranks. “I received the obligatory announcement email with the first memo when it came out, and no one has talked about it at all, so much so that I had forgotten about it entirely,” the employee stated, adding, “I don’t know anyone who has taken the job.”
The request for volunteers comes at a challenging time for the DoD. Under the guise of “efficiency,” the Trump administration has pursued significant cuts to government jobs, leading to increased workloads for remaining staff. The anonymous employee noted, “I have taken up the duties of three departed colleagues on top of the job I was hired for as a result.” This existing strain makes the prospect of losing more staff to another agency’s mission particularly difficult. The employee characterized this type of inter-agency volunteer request as “very not common,” especially given the DoD’s current engagement in directing the US’s role in a conflict with Iran.
The Scope of the Volunteer Roles
DoD employees interested in these details must apply through USAJobs, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of DHS, tasked with reviewing applications. The postings indicate that volunteers will be deployed not only to the southern border but also to various Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities across the interior of the United States.
From Data Entry to Direct Enforcement
The roles advertised are diverse, ranging from seemingly administrative tasks like “data entry” to positions deeply embedded in immigration enforcement operations. These include:
- Assisting ICE and CBP in “developing concepts of operation and campaign plans to execute internal arrests and raids as well as patrols along the Southwest Border.”
- Supporting ICE and CBP in “managing the physical flow of detained illegal aliens from arrest to deportation, as well as manage associated data.”
- Managing the “logistical planning to move law enforcement personnel, operational capabilities, and support equipment across the United States.”
These descriptions highlight a potential for DoD civilians to be directly involved in sensitive and often controversial aspects of immigration enforcement, far removed from their traditional defense responsibilities.
A Broader Enforcement Push
This DoD initiative is not an isolated incident but rather the latest in a series of federal government adjustments aimed at bolstering President Donald Trump’s comprehensive immigration agenda. Other agencies have also been tapped to support these efforts. For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is considering a new rule that would restrict housing support for families with immigrant members, while the General Services Administration has been asked to assist ICE in securing new physical spaces nationwide. The integration of DoD personnel into these operations marks a significant expansion of the administration’s strategy, blurring the lines between military support and domestic law enforcement.
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