The dismissals will begin next week, officials said, and could expand to include tens of thousands of other workers throughout the Defense Department.

The Pentagon said on Friday it would start firing about 5,400 civilian employees who were on probation, the first moves by President Donald Trump's administration at the department to make good on its promise to reduce the federal workforce.

The Defense Department says it’s cutting 5,400 probationary workers starting next week and will put a hiring freeze in place.