The Department of Justice (DOJ) pushed back on a report Friday that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE learned of his firing from a press release.

A DOJ spokeswoman told The Hill that "Mr. McCabe and his lawyer were informed in advance of the news media" after a representative for McCabe told CNN that the No. 2 FBI official learned of his firing by Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE through a press release.

McCabe, who served with the FBI for more than 20 years, was fired Friday just two days shy of when he was set to retire, potentially jeopardizing his pension. McCabe had stepped down under pressure in January and was already on a leave of absence.

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Other former Trump administration officials have faced unceremonious ends to their careers.

Earlier this week, Trump ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE, who reportedly knew of his impending ouster ahead of time but was surprised when it was announced Tuesday on Twitter.

"The Secretary did not speak to the President this morning and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling and not to be regretted," read a statement from a top Tillerson aide at the State Department who was later fired.

Former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE also reportedly learned of his firing last year from a TV news report while speaking to employees at an FBI field office.

The Los Angeles Times reported last year that Comey initially thought the news was a prank, before staffers pulled him aside to inform him of the news from the White House.