Editor's note: This story is posted with permission from the anonymous federal employee who shared it with us. Some edits were made for length and clarity.
My story is no different than hundreds of thousands of others in my position. I was terminated from my government job at the VA on 2/24/25. I was the New Employee Orientation (NEO) Coordinator for the facility. I had just finished the first day of this week's NEO, welcoming new employees to the facility and touting the wonderful things about working at the VA. And I meant it. Then, I logged into Outlook and stared at an email saying I was not deemed worthy of working there, and today was my last day. Actually, the exact words were,
"Unfortunately, the Agency finds that your performance has not met the burden to demonstrate that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest. For this reason, the Agency informs you that the Agency is removing you from your position with the Agency and the federal civil service effective February 24, 2025."
I was almost 22 months into a 2 year probationary period. I revamped the entire NEO program to rave reviews from new employees and staff alike. I reviewed travel and tuition requests for the facility. I reviewed and monitored the education budget for the whole facility, and created a spreadsheet that tracks expenditures. I taught and co-taught several classes, which was not even part of my job requirements, but something I did because I enjoyed it. I received outstanding performance reviews and won awards. I took very little time off, showed up early and gave it my all. I come from a family of veterans, and I felt blessed to drive through the gates of the VA to come to work, every single day without exception.
Someone who doesn't even know me deemed me unworthy to work there. I am now jobless and without insurance. I have a heart condition, have a pacemaker and take meds every day for it. My dream of retiring from the VA in a few years is gone. Because someone I don't know, who doesn't know me, decided that my work was not up to task. That I was not up to task. This is my story. And I'm far from finished telling it. I'm just getting started.