Over 500 Defense Department civilian employees have volunteered for temporary assignments with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support operations at the southern border, following a directive from President Donald Trump to secure the region. The program, which opened earlier this week, allows DoD civilians in good standing with at least 90 days of service at their current agency to apply for roles that last up to 180 days, with current assignments running through Sept. 30, 2026. These volunteers will provide logistical and technical support, including data entry, planning, case processing, linguistics, and human resources, helping to complement the efforts of DHS agents. Volunteers maintain their pay and benefits while on assignment and are eligible for overtime, gaining cross-agency experience and professional development in the process.
Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Civilian Personnel Policy Michael A. Cogar praised the willingness of DoD civilians to support the mission, stating, ‘This is a national security problem, and our civilians have the critical skill sets to support DHS in their mission.’ He emphasized the importance of combining civilian expertise with the efforts of DHS agents to address the challenges at the southern border, ensuring that ‘those DHS agents can focus on what they do best.’ The initiative is part of Trump’s broader strategy to secure the border, which includes a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to eliminating national security threats such as gang members and terrorists.
The program follows a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June that also opened DHS placements for retiring service members through the SkillBridge program. This initiative provides retiring service members with ‘real-world training and work experience in in-demand fields of work,’ further supporting the mission to strengthen border security. A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the initiative reflects Trump’s commitment to a comprehensive approach to protecting the American people, with agencies including ICE, CBP, and FEMA working in unison to address the challenges at the border. The effort underscores the coordination between the Department of Defense and Homeland Security in addressing what is described as a ‘national security problem.’