The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has fired a number of recent hires, following the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has overseen widespread layoffs across multiple government agencies, including intelligence services.

The firings, ordered by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, affected employees with less than two years of service, including analysts and trainee field officers, according to The Independent. 

According to sources who spoke to the New York Times, some probationary employees have been instructed to meet at a location outside the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and surrender their security credentials.

A CIA spokeswoman confirmed the dismissals, stating: “Our officers face unique pressures from working in fast-paced, high-stakes situations—it’s not for everyone.” She did not specify how many employees were let go.

The layoffs were made possible by a Virginia federal judge’s ruling on February 27, which upheld Ratcliffe’s authority to fire CIA employees at will. 

The ruling came after 11 dismissed intelligence officers sought to block their terminations, arguing that Trump’s January 20 executive order ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs did not authorize their firing. The judge rejected their challenge, allowing the dismissals to proceed.

Last month, the CIA dismissed over a dozen officers working on DEI programs, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired more than 100 intelligence officers across 15 agencies over alleged misconduct.

Critics argue that cutting intelligence personnel could weaken U.S. national security, especially with rising threats from China, Russia, and drug cartels. The government has not provided details on how these reductions will affect intelligence operations.