NASA employees at the Johnson Space Center learned Tuesday night that the center's probationary employees would be spared from the latest round of layoffs under the Trump administration — a surprise turn of events hours after many had been bracing to be fired.

Hundreds of NASA employees responded to President Donald Trump's "Fork in the Road" deferred resignation offer before the Feb. 12 deadline, according to an agency spokesperson. The offer would give federal employees benefits and pay through the end of September — or they can risk being laid off.

More government layoffs are expected on Tuesday, including around 10 percent at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. This would also amount to around 1,000 workers from the organization, which employs only about 12,000 people .