CNN —

On Thursday, the Trump administration expanded its initiative to dismiss thousands of probationary employees, directing governmental agencies to proceed with layoffs.

The focus is on probationary workers—typically those employed for less than a year, or two years at most—since they possess fewer legal protections and lack the right to appeal their terminations.

Recent data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management indicates that over 200,000 federal employees have been with the government for less than a year.

Layoffs occurred at various agencies, including the Departments of Energy and Veterans Affairs, and followed a wave of dismissals earlier this week affecting probationary staff at the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Small Business Administration.

Until now, federal employees had generally been placed on paid administrative leave without permanent dismissal.

The guidance shift on Thursday marked a departure from earlier instructions from OPM, which advised agencies to concentrate only on underperforming probationary employees rather than terminating all.

“The probationary phase is an extension of the job application process and does not guarantee permanent employment,” an OPM spokesperson explained to CNN. “Agencies are taking independent actions due to the recent hiring freeze and in alignment with the President’s broader plan to restructure the federal government to enhance service to the American populace.”

Since January, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have significantly altered the federal workforce landscape—terminating leading officials and watchdogs, dismantling essential humanitarian organizations, and persuading over 75,000 employees to opt for voluntary departures through a deferred resignation offer.

The strategy for dismissing probationary employees was initiated on Trump’s first day in office, with the acting head of OPM directing all agencies to gather and submit lists of their probationary staff members. The January 20 memo highlighted the ease of terminating these employees.

Terminations via Email and Video

Sources reported that employees were informed of their terminations through emails, standard letters, and video calls.

At OPM, numerous probationary employees were dismissed during an afternoon Microsoft Teams meeting, as stated by the American Federation of Government Employees, representing career staff at the office. Approximately 100 participants joined the call after receiving an invitation email, only to have their video and speaking capabilities disabled. During the call, they were informed of their termination and instructed to vacate the premises within half an hour.

The stated reason for their dismissal was refusal to accept a deferred resignation package, according to AFGE. After 3 p.m., those released were cut off from the building and their government emails, and union representatives were not permitted on the call.

The VA announced that it had let go more than 1,000 employees while boasting potential annual savings exceeding $98 million. Notably, over 43,000 probationary employees remained exempt from dismissal, according to the department’s statement.

A termination notice sent to a VA employee and shared with CNN indicated: “The agency has determined, based on your performance, that continuing your employment would not serve the public interest.” Other departments issued similar termination notifications.

The message sent to the VA employee was signed by VA Chief Human Capital Officer Tracey Therit.

In a statement, VA Secretary Doug Collins asserted, “To clarify: these actions will not adversely affect VA healthcare, benefits, or beneficiaries.”

Simultaneously, employees within the Department of Energy experienced anxiety as notification of probationary layoffs began on Thursday.

“Our leadership appeared visibly distressed today,” one employee from the Department of Energy revealed to CNN. “It seemed to catch them off guard.”

Earlier that day, the agency’s acting general counsel convened a meeting with departmental heads, requesting them to identify “mission-critical” probationary employees who might be exempt from layoffs. With around 2,000 probationary staff members at DOE, the exact number impacted by the terminations was unclear.

AFGE vowed to contest the layoffs, claiming the administration has misused the probationary period to carry out “politically motivated mass firings.”

“These firings are not about underperformance—there’s no proof indicating these individuals were anything but committed public servants. It all comes down to power,” stated AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “Agencies have invested years in recruiting and training the future generation of public servants. By terminating them in bulk, this administration is squandering essential talent crucial for effective government functioning in the future.”

At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, probationary employees faced layoffs on Tuesday, followed by the termination of several term employees later on Thursday. Although these employees typically serve a set duration, they are still regarded as career staff with some civil service protections.

The bureau’s technology team, initially brought on to develop artificial intelligence and other projects, was severely affected by the layoffs, according to one insider. The CFPB has not yet commented on this matter.

An employee of the bureau reported receiving their termination notice via a form letter directed to their personal email on Thursday evening, shortly after being locked out of their work accounts. Although contracted until 2026, they learned their last day was that day, and they were instructed to return their identification badge, laptop, iPhone, and other company property using a prepaid shipping envelope.

“I cherished my role in protecting consumers daily,” expressed the affected employee, who has young children and a mortgage. “This will significantly impact my family’s financial situation.”

The termination notices indicated that employees were being let go due to an executive order on workforce optimization signed by Trump, which sought a “critical transformation of the federal bureaucracy” aimed at “waste elimination.” The order also mandated agency leaders to begin preparations for substantial reductions in workforce.

Furthermore, approximately 3,400 employees from the Forest Service and 2,000 individuals from the Energy Department were laid off on Thursday, as reported by Randy Erwin, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees. CNN is currently awaiting additional details from NFFE.

Reporting by CNN’s Megan Trimble, Kaanita Iyer, and Ella Nilsen contributed to this article.