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

The Department of Defense expects to lay off more than 5,000 probationary employees starting next week, as the department complies with the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

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.