After the first round of firings, the Defense Department will launch a review intended to cut the civilian workforce by 5 to 8%, an official said.

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

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.