Southwest said that it will continue to evaluate its hiring needs on an ongoing basis to determine when it makes the most sense to restart hiring.

Southwest Airlines is implementing cost-cutting measures by pausing some hirings, internships and employee events to lower costs.

The airline said it would honor internship offers already made but pause all "non-contract internal and external hiring.” As part of the moves to limit “discretionary costs,” the company also does not plan to host the annual rallies where Southwest employees gather to celebrate past accomplishments and hear about future initiatives from corporate executives.

The DOT filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, citing a pattern of chronic delays, as the government pushes for stricter accountability.

Southwest Airlines has stopped hiring corporate workers and is nixing its signature employee rallies as leaders try to cut costs. Amid a vicious fight with an activist investor for control of the company,