This order means that even high-performing new federal employees (known as probationary employees) will be automatically fired at the end of their first or second year unless agency political leadership takes action to keep them. The new rule applies to all probationary federal employees across the entire government (except those who have been recently transferred, promoted, or assigned for the first time to a supervisory or managerial position). It requires agencies to actively affirm that probationary employees advance the public interest and should continue in the federal service before finalizing their appointments. Otherwise, employees will be terminated at the end of their probationary period. Currently, probationary workers may only be laid off due to performance or conduct, but the order adds the needs and interests of the agency as a reason for possible termination, potentially inserting ideology into the process. The order instructs political appointee agency heads, rather than the usual career employee supervisors, to make that determination, leaving new federal employees' continued employment at the discretion of political appointees