I had a similar experience. The owner had a new idea so he started a project which required new people. Then he lost interest in this shiny toy and then then started a few more new projects. That needed new people who had different skills.

So the poor souls had to look for positions in existing departments which did not want the "donated" employees.

I never did nothing (Apparently, I had to implement some of the old projects that nobody wanted. Thinks suicide squad but with no handler that wanted to be involved in the project.)

But I knew what it was like to be an outsider in my own company.