The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Thursday directed federal agencies to begin firing its employees who are still in their probationary period, despite having been employed for a year or more. 

The order is a change from a previous directive, which told agencies to fire employees who were still on probation because of "poor performances." The new order stated there would be exceptions, but did not outline what the exceptions were.

The move comes as the federal government works to restructure itself, including by reducing the federal workforce. The office gave federal employees a different way out last week, by resigning voluntarily in exchange for retaining their benefits and being paid through September.

“The probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment," an OPM spokesperson told The Hill. "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."

The order could impact as many as 200,000 federal employees. Employees are generally on probation for between one and two years, which makes them easier to fire but still usually needs cause for termination.

The OPM was not exempt from the new order, and fired its probationary staff Thursday as of 3 p.m. Eastern. The move resulted in approximately 70 employees being terminated, a source told The Hill.

The United States Forest Service is expected to fire approximately 3,400 employees on all levels of the agency, in order to comply with the order, according to Politico. Public safety employees in the department are exempt.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.