"…in the U.S. government, probationary employees refer to new hires — as well as officials who recently moved or were promoted into new positions." — This means purging probationary employees from U.S. gov creates more probationary employees as the remaining workforce shifts to fill the gaps. Tuck this fact in your pocket for later.
https://defensescoop.com/2025/02/21/dod-cuts-probationary-workforce-statement-doge-hiring-freeze/