A mass firing of federal workers began Thursday in a major escalation of President Donald Trump’s purge of government personnel, according to media reports.
The new round of firings came as officials at the Office of Personnel Management advised agency leaders to dismiss probationary employees, NBC News reported. The office's data projects that the move could result in hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs.
"The probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment," an OPM spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.
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"Agencies are taking independent action in light of the recent hiring freeze and in support of the President’s broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government to better serve the American people at the highest possible standard."
Some employees may serve up to two years before gaining full civil service protections, though many receive these protections after just a year. Some can receive them earlier due to prior service or veteran status.
