Massive Cyberattack Hits X Amid Defense Cuts and Economic Tensions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A massive cyberattack targeted the social media platform X as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced sweeping financial restrictions for civilian employees amid growing economic concerns. The recent directives stress the Pentagon’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability in government spending.

A memo from the Pentagon revealed that spending limits on government-issued travel and purchase cards for federal civilian employees have been reduced to $1. The memo emphasized that all future non-exempted official travel reservations should be canceled, with current travelers urged to return to their permanent duty stations at the earliest convenience.

“DoD civilian employees must cancel all future non-exempted official travel reservations, and those currently on non-exempted travel must return to their respective duty stations as soon as feasible,” the memo stated.

The memo outlines exceptions for civilian employee travel that directly supports essential operations or involves a permanent change of station, reflecting the Pentagon’s pressing need to curtail spending amid an alarming budgetary climate.

The restrictions come in the wake of a February 26 executive order aimed at activating the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cost-saving initiatives. According to chief spokesperson Sean Parnell, the Pentagon has already identified $80 million in wasteful spending, primarily associated with diversity and climate initiatives. With an agency budget of $840 billion, this amount represents a minimal but indicative start to the spending review process.

“Once an agency’s system is in place, the Agency Head shall prohibit agency employees from engaging in federally funded travel for conferences or other non-essential purposes unless approved with a brief justification,” the order mandates.

The new guidelines also temporarily freeze agency-issued credit cards for 30 days, except for use in emergency and critical services as deemed necessary by the Agency Head. The tightening of financial controls comes alongside the Pentagon’s decision to lay off 5,400 civilian employees currently in probationary periods and enforce a hiring freeze.

In related developments, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced a partnership with DOGE to identify efficiencies within the United States Postal Service (USPS). DeJoy noted plans for further workforce reductions, claiming that he has already cut 30,000 jobs since the fiscal year 2021.

“We are committed to achieving further efficiencies at the USPS, which has been a priority for our administration,” DeJoy stated. However, critics argue that these reductions threaten vital services, particularly for rural communities that depend heavily on postal deliveries.

Representative Gerald Connolly, ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, lambasted the DOGE’s attempt to streamline USPS operations, warning that it could have detrimental impacts on residents reliant on the postal system for essential services.

“The deal would have catastrophic consequences for all Americans—especially those in rural and hard-to-reach areas who rely on the Postal Service every day,” Connolly said.

As the Pentagon navigates through economic turbulence, the administration remains steadfast in its cost-cutting efforts, despite potential backlash from public service advocates and citizens relying on essential government services.

Given the broader economic landscape, many lawmakers fear that these budgetary strategies could exacerbate existing fiscal challenges while providing Trump and his administration with leverage against critical social programs.

Similarly, recent polling indicates a troubling shift in public sentiment regarding the economy, with a major survey revealing that 75% of Americans view the current economic situation as suboptimal.

“Under a shutdown, the Trump administration would have full authority to deem whole agencies non-essential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned, highlighting the potential risks of a government shutdown amidst ongoing financial uncertainty.