More than 2,200 public servants in the capital could be added to the growing list of federal workers losing their jobs because of budget cuts.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada said 5,561 members in 23 departments got notices Wednesday they could lose their jobs, including 2,224 in Ottawa/Gatineau.

Some of those informed today include workers at Health Canada and Veterans Affairs.

"I'm in my 31st year of service, so I'm close to retirement but not psychologically ready to retire," said Lisa Levasseur, who received notice today her Canada Border Services job could be cut.

"You can hear a pin drop in the offices these days. For the past two to three weeks you could hear a pin drop, that's how it is."

PSAC said they're frustrated that with all these notices about potential layoffs, there are still no specifics.

"The government is rushing these cuts through without telling Canadians what it means for public services," said John Gordon, PSAC president.

Over 1,100 notices were given out in Levasseur's department, with 689 at Agriculture Canada and 261 at Veterans Affairs.

"Those people are the first point of contact to veterans," said Yvan Thauvette, president of the Veterans Affairs Employees Union. "They are the experts, they're the ones that know what a veteran's needs are."

The government says the cuts are to save $5.2 billion as they try to balance the budget.

Over 19,000 public service jobs will be lost over the next three years, but thousands of those will be from retirements and other forms of attrition.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman