The Army will eliminate 8,700 civilian jobs this year in anticipation of budget cuts. The Pentagon said the cutbacks will affect 70 locations in 37 states, with 90% of the reductions coming from the Installation Management Command, Army Materiel Command and Training and Doctrine Command. 

The Pentagon said voluntary departures will account for most of the reductions, but early retirements and buyouts will also be offered.

Separately, the Defense Department reminded components that they should not hire contractors to replace departing federal employees.

One active and one former Coast Guard member pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a contracting fraud scheme, the U.S. attorney in Norfolk, VA, announced.

Danielle Daniese Ferreira of South Mills, NC, a former Coast Guard lieutenant, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in helping to steer ship-repair contracts to a cousin’s company. Wallace Mack Haggins of Cape May, NJ, a Coast Guard recruiter, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with the same contracts.

The U.S. attorney said Ferreira’s cousin Tracia Christian-Young, owner of Strategy One LLC, pleaded guilty in November. Prosecutors said Ferreira and her husband, Henry Ramon Ferreira, who pleaded guilty to felony theft of government services in November, received nearly $100,000 in kickbacks from Strategy One and another company.      

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-WA, fired three staff members for what CQ Roll Call described as “mind-bogglingly unprofessional and undeniably puerile behavior.”

The trio used their congressional computers to tweet tales of their frat-party-style drinking games while on the job in a House office building and to hurl insults at their boss. A political website in the congressman’s home state spotted the tweets and publicized them.

The staffers said they were planning a “December to Remember.” Presumably they’ll remember it.