In testimony on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirmed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is now looking to fill critical positions, after agreeing to pay more than 15,000 employees’ salaries and benefits through September in exchange for their resignations.

“We are actively looking and recruiting to fill those positions that are integral to the efforts and the key frontlines,” Rollins told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.

But the need to fill positions so soon after letting people go has raised questions, including from Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“So you let people go and you’re looking for new people to fill the positions that they had experience in?” Murray asked.