War Department Civilians to Receive Christmas Bonuses Under Hegseth Order

In a bold move reflecting the Trump administration’s no-nonsense, results-driven approach to government, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has authorized Christmas bonuses for the top-performing civilian employees at the Department of War. The bonuses, which range from 15% to 25% of base pay and could total up to $25,000, are intended to recognize the “historic successes” achieved by the department over the past 10 months.

The directive, issued in a memorandum obtained by The Daily Wire, instructs department heads and principal staff assistants to “take immediate action to recognize and reward” the War Department’s best-performing civilians, so long as they are not political appointees under the SES or Schedule C pay systems.

The decision, backed by Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg, marks the first time in recent memory that the Department of War has launched a coordinated and high-impact bonus program of this kind further solidifying Hegseth’s efforts to rebuild the military with excellence, accountability, and American pride at its core.

“Make no mistake about it,” Hegseth said recently, “President Trump is hellbent on maintaining and accelerating the most powerful military the world has ever seen; the most powerful, the most lethal and American-made … the arsenal of freedom.”

The move reflects several key Trump administration goals:

• Reviving the warrior ethos and refocusing the military on combat readiness over bureaucracy.

• Rewarding high-performing government workers in line with private-sector principles.

• Recognizing the sacrifice and perseverance of civilians during a record-breaking government shutdown and major defense restructuring.

The memo, titled “Recognition of Outstanding Department of War Civilian Employees,” emphasizes that DoW civilians have long been “essential and foundational” to U.S. military victories and that their loyalty during a year of rapid transformation and uncertainty deserves recognition.

“These achievements have not been easy,” Hegseth wrote. “The longest Government shutdown in American history imposed severe strain on our civilian workforce. The resilience our civilian teammates have demonstrated throughout this challenging time is an inspiration and deserves to be recognized.”

The memo points specifically to:

• Operational victories in the Middle East

• Progress in defending the homeland

• Ongoing efforts to reestablish American military deterrence globally

Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and longtime America First advocate, has made it clear that the military’s mission must return to lethality, discipline, and combat excellence. Under his leadership, the Department of War has moved aggressively to strip away failed Obama-era social engineering policies and refocus on warfighting capabilities, troop morale, and strategic dominance.

And unlike the bloated bureaucracy of the past, Hegseth is showing that excellence will be rewarded, just as it would be in the private sector.

It’s the kind of leadership military insiders have been begging for and now, under Trump’s second term, they’re finally seeing action.

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