There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers — generally employees who have less than a year on the job — across federal agencies.

A California federal judge said that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management lacked the power to order federal agencies to fire any workers, including probationary employees who typically have less than a year of experience.

Firing local FSA loan officers is not only a waste of taxpayer investment in their training, producers will lose the opportunity to buy a farm or ranch, if not lose their existing farm or ranch,’ Ducheneaux said.