Energy Department set to fire probationary employees

Energy Department officials have told the agency’s program leaders to inform probationary employees they will be fired on Thursday, a move that could include up to 2,000 people, according to DOE officials who were granted anonymity to avoid retaliation.

The orders have been communicated verbally, one of the officials said, which appeared to be part of a strategy that aligns with a pattern of leaving no paper trail described by a second DOE employee. Two other DOE officials said they were also informed probationary hires will be laid off on Thursday, though they said the exact timing and whether any exceptions would be made was unclear.

Former DOE officials estimated that would affect a significant portion of the department’s staff. One former official estimated that roughly 2,000 of the department’s more than 16,000 employees could be impacted.

DOE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.