Agreed. My neighbor had a family member fired from the VA who was hardly deadweight. He was apparently engaged in research on brain injuries, something that could help seriously injured veterans in the future. But the VA under DOGE let him go anyway.
They’ve called back some who were let go in other departments, and this easily could happen to this person.
It seems that they’ve done some across-the-board RIFS, then reviewed positions, recalling those who are necessary.
Research is done by grants, not by employees.