Probationary workers at several federal health agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received nearly identical termination notices on Saturday evening, according to sources reported by CBS News.

The termination letter, which CBS News managed to obtain, stated, “Regrettably, the Agency has determined that you are not suitable for continued employment due to a mismatch between your skills, knowledge, and the Agency’s current requirements, and your performance has not met the necessary standards for ongoing employment with the Agency.”

This communication was signed by Jeffrey Anoka, acting head of HHS human resources. A health agency official indicated that thousands of these letters were distributed on Saturday.

Probationary employees typically have been on the job for less than a year, making them more susceptible to termination compared to veteran federal employees.

This significant action aligns with a government-wide initiative aimed at reducing the number of probationary workers, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency task force, also known as DOGE, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk.

Initially, over 5,000 probationary employees in health agencies were expected to be terminated; however, not all received dismissal letters on Saturday. Officials also reported that some letters were sent mistakenly to individuals who were not meant to be laid off.

Additionally, certain agencies were granted exemptions for part of their workforce facing cuts due to rising concerns regarding staff reductions at organizations such as the Indian Health Service.

Notably, the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, which conducts critical disease investigations, was not included in the final roster of cuts authorized by the Trump administration, CBS News discovered. Earlier, officials overseeing this program had cautioned local health departments that their ranks might be reduced by half.

However, fellowship programs within the agency faced tougher outcomes. The CDC’s Public Health Associate Program, which places emerging graduates in health departments nationwide, was among those eliminated.

Other agencies affected over the weekend include the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, tasked with managing the country’s pandemic resources, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to a White House official, employees exempt from the layoffs included scientists at the CDC and the FDA, along with personnel involved in Medicare and frontline healthcare services.

“This isn’t a reckless effort to cut jobs indiscriminately; rather, it’s a calculated initiative aimed at streamlining operations,” the official stated.

Calley Means, an adviser to the recently appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., supported the rationale behind the layoffs, asserting that the necessity for changes extends beyond mere cost-cutting measures. He echoed a sentiment voiced during President Trump’s campaign, claiming prior administrations had failed to adequately tackle the factors contributing to declining life expectancy in the U.S.

“It would be illogical not to implement changes,” Means commented on social media.

At the FDA, employee reports indicated that among those dismissed late Saturday were scientists, engineers, and an attorney. The cuts impacted sectors of the FDA financed mainly through application fees rather than taxpayer funds, including regulatory divisions for tobacco products and medical devices.

The impact of this week’s layoffs reached beyond just probationary employees and fellows. Many contractors, who often have less job security than agency staff, were abruptly notified this week of their terminations.

One former CDC contractor shared that they had been one of two team members in Atlanta familiar with operating a project designed for analyzing electronic health records for disease surveillance.

The only other member with knowledge of the project was a CDC employee still on probation.

“I’m concerned that they will be overwhelmed with tasks and may have to abandon many projects. Even during my time there, projects were already beginning to fall by the wayside,” the former contractor expressed.

Several scientists who spoke to CBS News revealed that they had made significant life changes to serve the federal government, often accepting lower salaries compared to what they could have received in academia or the private sector. Others had been on probation for staff positions despite years of prior work with the agency in contract roles.

One former NIH scientist recounted a heartrending meeting with their supervisors, who assured them that the termination decision was not based on their job performance and praised their contributions since being hired.

“Words fail to convey how financially devastated I feel,” the former NIH scientist stated.