Trump 2nd term live updates: Dan Bongino named as deputy FBI director

The Pentagon announced it will "release" some 5,400 civilian probationary workers beginning next week and freeze hiring in the first wave of what could amount to more than 70,000 fired.

"We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws," Darin Selnick, acting secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a statement.

The statement said 5% to 8% of the department's civilian workforce will be cut in total, which would amount to about 43,900 to 70,240 of the approximately 878,000 civilian employees at the DOD.

"This re-evaluation of probationary employees is being done across government, not just at the Defense Department, but we believe in the goals of the program, and our leaders are carrying out that review carefully and smartly," the statement said.

The announcement follows two U.S. officials telling ABC News that the DOD had temporarily delayed mass layoffs as it continued to review the impacts on readiness.

-ABC News' Matt Seyler

Kash Patel was sworn in to be Trump's FBI director on Friday by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Patel was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Thursday in a 51-49 vote. It was the most narrowly divided confirmation vote for an FBI director in history. By contrast, previous FBI chief Christopher Wray was confirmed 92-5. James Comey was confirmed 93-1 and Robert Mueller 98-0.

A Trump loyalist with a history of criticizing the FBI, Patel will now oversee the nation's top law enforcement agency.

The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been moved to an operations role, according to multiple officials. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the shakeup at ICE.

Caleb Vitello "is no longer in an Administrative role, but is instead overseeing all field and enforcement operations: finding, arresting, and deporting illegal aliens, which is a major priority of the President and Secretary Noem," according to a DHS spokesperson.

The agency is now left with no director. It is unclear who is currently leading the agency tasked with Trump's priority to deport those in the country illegally.

Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan has recently expressed frustration on the pace at which deportations have occurred.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, all veterans, have written a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the possible dismissal of high-ranking military officers. They’re asking for details about why the officers might be fired or removed from their posts.

“As your administration contemplates removing numerous General and Flag Officers, it is vital that we have transparency on the criteria and process used to evaluate these officers. There are valid reasons to remove a General or Flag Officer, but there must be clear, transparent, and apolitical criteria and processes associated with any such dismissal," they wrote.

"An apolitical military is an essential component of our democracy and our national security," they added.

ABC News previously reported Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's top admiral, are on the list of officers provided to Congress.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez