Southwest Airlines said Tuesday that it would put the filling of some jobs and summer internships on hold this year as the company looks to lower costs. The airline said it would honor internship offers already made but pause all "non-contract internal and external hiring.

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 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,