The Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency has ordered the feds to lay off nearly all probationary workers who had not yet gained civil service protection.
In addition, workers at some agencies were warned that large workplace cuts would be coming, in moves that could effect 200,000 employees.
Trump´s initial attempt to downsize the workforce was the deferred resignation program, commonly described as a buyout, which offered to pay people until Sept. 30 if they agreed to quit.
The White House said 75,000 people signed up, and a federal judge cleared a legal roadblock for the program on Wednesday.
However, the number of workers who took the offer was less than the administration's target, and Trump has made it clear he would take further steps.
The decision on probationary workers, who generally have less than a year on the job, came from the Office of Personnel Management, which serves as a human resources department for the federal government.
The notification was confirmed by a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
