The USS Gravely has deployed to the Gulf of America on a mission usually reserved for the U.S. Coast Guard to help deter illegal crossings and drug trafficking as part the military’s efforts to bolster security along the southern border.

All 10 of those fired from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine were entry-level probationary workers, though a local union leader said he expects at least six to be reinstated following a Thursday ruling from a federal judge.

The Navy is offering voluntary honorable discharges to transgender sailors and Marines who self-identify by March 28 or risk being involuntarily separated, according to a memo released Thursday.

The creation of the White House’s shipbuilding office could help get Navy shipbuilding on track, but the U.S. won’t catch up to China dominating the industry without a multidecade whole-of-government and commercial sector approach, according to a defense analyst.

The Navy, the Defense Health Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency confirmed civilian job terminations are underway at those organizations. The firings are part of a Defense Department-wide effort to reduce the civilian workforce by up to 8%, beginning with 5,400 probationary workers.

Workers fired Monday were “the first step” in the Defense Department’s effort to “appropriately align its personnel resources with its critical warfighting functions,” read the March 3 memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The denial came after reports claimed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions.

Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland vacated her post, which she held for slightly more than two years. Dr. David Smith, the acting principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, was appointed as the acting director.

A new watchdog report made six recommendations to the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department that include improving visibility across investments and creating an industrial base strategy. It was released as John Phelan, the nominee to be the next Navy secretary, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Democratic lawmakers are questioning the long-term damage detaining migrants at Guantanamo Bay will have on U.S. military resources as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured and touted the mission unfolding at the naval base in Cuba.