NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new category of employees at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received termination notices on Thursday, according to five sources and termination letters, in a sign that the Trump administration was going beyond probationary employees as it looks to fire federal staff.

The notices went to dozens of so-called "term employees," who are full-time workers on contracts with end dates, according to the sources and copies of two termination notices sent to employees that were reviewed by Reuters.

The Office of Management and Budget, which is also run by the CFPB's acting director Russell Vought, and the CFPB, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Reuters could not immediately ascertain how many employees were fired.

The termination letters, which were dated February 13, were sent by Adam Martinez, acting chief human capital officer at the agency, the notices show. Two notices showed letters to employees who had three-year terms at the CFPB.

"The purpose of this memorandum is to notify you that your employment will be terminated effective at the close of business on February 13, 2025," Martinez wrote, citing President Donald Trump's executive order earlier this week.

The memos told employees they could seek recourse if they believed their firings were the result of discrimination based on race, religion, sex or other factors, or the result of whistleblower activities.

The new round of firings come after the CFPB on Tuesday terminated as many as 70 probationary staff members.

The agency, a lightning rod for conservatives and the industry since it was established by Congress in 2010, was hobbled over the weekend, when acting chief Russell Vought ordered staff to cease all "supervision and examination activity."