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 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 first firings of Defense Department civilian probationary employees are expected to start next week, with about 5,400 set to be released as the Pentagon anticipates reducing its civilian workforce by 5-8%.