CIA Fires Probationary Employees, Sparking Concerns Over National Security and Federal Restructuring

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recently terminated several newly hired employees, a move that some U.S. intelligence officials have expressed concerns over, citing potential risks to national security. The dismissals occurred under the leadership of CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, and align with broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce, overseen by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The employees in question were probationary staff working across various departments within the agency. They were let go due to performance-related issues, though the exact number of those dismissed has not been disclosed.
A CIA spokesperson explained that personnel within their first two years of service are subject to performance reviews, and for some, this process results in termination. The spokesperson emphasized that CIA officers operate in high-pressure, fast-paced environments that may not be suitable for everyone.
In some other federal agencies, employees who were dismissed for alleged performance issues during the restructuring of the federal government had previously received positive evaluations, raising concerns about the fairness of the process.
The probationary employees let go had been with the CIA for less than two years. The firings began after a federal judge in Virginia ruled in a case involving officers temporarily reassigned to diversity initiatives under the Biden administration, granting the CIA the authority to terminate employees at will.
Additionally, members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees were not notified in advance of the terminations, a customary practice, and are expected to seek further information from the agency in the coming days.