Vicky Teigue who is 90% disabled and was five months from retirement questions how the government could turn its back on her.
BOISE, Idaho — A local veteran and longtime federal employee is fighting back after receiving a sudden termination email from D.O.G.E.’s federal layoffs just months before her retirement.
Vicky Teigue, 64, served 23 years in the Army, including multiple international deployments, before joining the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.) for 15 years of dedicated service.
On February 24th, she received a termination notice citing “poor performance” despite having earned excellent reviews for over a decade.
“I was hurt and upset that they would treat me that way with my 35 years of service. I was devastated,” Teigue said.
The termination came after a promotion last September, which unexpectedly categorized her position as “probationary,” a status that has left her vulnerable to firing without cause amid D.O.G.E. terminations.
“I was doing the same job for 13 years, and they finally promoted me,” she told KTVB Friday. “I was so happy that I got promoted. I thought, ‘Well, they finally see my worth.’”
Teigue, who is 90% disabled from her military service, was five months away from retiring when her job was suddenly taken away.
The termination not only ended her career but also stripped her of her salary, current and retirement health benefits, and some of her future retirement funds.
Teigue’s lawyer, Max Williams, believes the firing of Teigue is inappropriate given her longstanding career in the organization.
“They were discriminating against the federal workforce who were being terminated for no other reason than a subjective belief that they are a cause for the increased debt and budget of our nation,” Williams said.
The termination letter claimed Teigue’s performance did not meet expectations, stating that her continued employment was not in the “public interest.”
However, Teigue and Williams argue that she was unfairly categorized as probationary and thus subject to termination without the rights of federal employees to appeal.
Teigue is now relying on an appeal filed with the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) in hopes of reinstating her job. Williams listed the following under the Basis for Appeal:
- Violation of Due Process – The agency failed to provide the required notice, reasonable explanation, and opportunity to respond before termination (5 U.S.C. § 7513(b)).
- Lack of Just Cause – The removal decision lacks substantial evidence under the Douglas Factors (Douglas v. Veterans Administration, 5 M.S.P.B. 313 (1981)).
- Prohibited Personnel Practices – The agency engaged in unlawful retaliation/discrimination.
- Failure to Follow Progressive Discipline – The VA failed to use progressive discipline before termination.
Teigue thinks back to how much she has done for her country.
“I just can’t believe I’m in this situation now,” she said.
In the meantime, Teigue is facing an uncertain future, including competing for new jobs with dozens of other candidates.
“I had a job interview today, and there were 40 people who applied for the position,” she said. “I’m an old woman. They’re probably going to hire someone younger that can stay longer.”
Thursday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that mass firings of probationary employees, like Teigue, may be unlawful.
However, the final decision could still be appealed in higher courts.
Vicky Teigue’s granddaughter set up a GoFundMe on Vicky’s behalf as she navigates this process. It can be found here.