March 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum to reduce the Pentagon's civilian workforce by an undisclosed amount and to reorganize the government's largest agency. Hegseth, who signed the memo on Friday while aboard a military plan, said the changes are required "to put the department on ready footing to deter our enemies and fight for peace," according to a Department of Defense according to a Department of Defense news release . Advertisement The intent of the