The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) does not have the statutory authority to fire people, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. Leavitt told CNN that DOGE has only an advisory role and "it's ultimately up to the discretion of these secretaries to make these hirings and firings.

President Donald Trump's administration said some federal government employees who took the "Fork in the Road" buyout offer were then fired or let go — in error.

Unlike workers at many other federal agencies this week, probationary employees at NASA were not terminated on Tuesday.