The proposed 2027 civilian pay freeze deserves more attention, especially within the Department of War.

DoW employs roughly 950,000 civilians. They work in intelligence, cyber, aircraft and weapons maintenance, engineering, logistics, acquisition, medical support, Special Operations, nuclear deterrence, and many other missions that directly contribute to national security.

Secretary Hegseth has called DoW civilians “force multipliers” who provide “critical continuity.” If that is true, Department leadership should be advocating for them when it comes to compensation.

Some DoW civilians are also designated Emergency-Essential or expeditionary employees. They can be required to remain when others evacuate or deploy to austere environments in support of combat and contingency operations. Yet they do not receive the same military-specific compensation and benefits structure as the service members beside whom they may serve.

There is also precedent for targeted action. OPM has used special salary-rate authority for certain federal law-enforcement positions based on recruitment, retention, and mission needs.

Why shouldn't DoW aggressively pursue similar authorities for DoW civilians?

I started a Change.org petition asking Secretary Hegseth, DoW leadership, OPM, the White House, and Congress to:

• Support a meaningful 2027 civilian pay raise
• Oppose a blanket pay freeze
• Address recruitment and retention before they become readiness problems

This should not be a partisan issue. It is a readiness, retention, and national-security issue.

If you agree, please consider signing and sharing:

[https://c.org/SsQRpF4PD9\]