Advocates praised defense leaders for excluding shipyard workers and other key readiness jobs from a department-wide hiring freeze.
If lawmakers do not pass a new budget bill by March 14, funding for most federal programs and serives will run out.
Hegseth promised to reinvest budget savings in other military programs and jettison civilian workers who are not living up to expectations.
Plans to avert a partial government shutdown starting this weekend appeared scuttled after President-elect Donald Trump opposed the bipartisan deal.
