NASA Working to Exempt Employees From Government-Wide Layoffs

NASA managers are seeking a “blanket waiver” to save probationary employees from layoffs, according to internal meeting notes seen by Bloomberg, as other federal agencies are forced to fire their newest hires in an effort to reduce employee headcount.

The expectation comes after NASA employees had braced for news of job cuts on Tuesday, six people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. However, no probationary employees have yet been fired, according to the people, and the meeting notes said that “things have stood down for now.”

Agency officials had compiled a list of probationary employees — individuals who have been ...