Fired Kentucky Mammoth Cave, Red River Gorge employees to return to work after court order
Kentucky probationary employees fired in February may soon be returning to work.
After multiple lawsuits challenging the terminations, two federal judges ruled earlier this month terminated employees were illegally fired and must be reinstated.
The firings were part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to slash the federal workforce and part a broader strategy by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to curtail federal spending.
Nationwide, court documents showed more than 25,000 probationary employees over 18 different departments were ordered to be rehired.
It’s not known how many Kentucky federal employees on probationary status were fired as the Kentucky elected federal delegation and federal agencies have not released state or location specific numbers.
Kentucky has a total of 23,118 federal civilian workers as of Dec. 20, 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Camp Nelson, National Park Service employees started work Monday
Kentucky employees who were fired from Camp Nelson, Mammoth Cave and other U.S. National Parks locations were rehired beginning Monday.
“In compliance with court orders, the Department of the Interior is reinstating these employees. All impacted employees will receive back pay, and the Department will ensure continued compensation as the White House pursues its appeals process,” an emailed statement from the National Park Services said. The park service is part of the Department of the Interior.
Jeff McDanald, a long-time Camp Nelson volunteer who also serves on the board of the Camp Nelson Foundation, said the three fired probationary employees returned to work this week.
Two started work Monday and the third will start later this week, he said.
In total, Camp Nelson National Monument in Jessamine County has 13 part-time and full-time employees. Originally four people were cut but one was reinstated after a successful appeal prior to the reinstatement of the other three employees.
McDanald said he was pleased those employees were now back at work but the threat of possible cuts to the federal workforce are not over.
“There is still a threat hanging out there about a possible reduction in force,” McDanald said he has been told by park employees. “This would hopefully be a more logical and thoughtful approach. Unfortunately, there are no details available.”
Mammoth Cave officials did not immediately return Herald-Leader phone calls asking for comment.
It’s not known how many employees at one of Kentucky’s most well-known tourist sites were terminated in February.
WKU Public Media reported it was at least 20 employees, including 17 seasonal employees who had their job offers rescinded, were terminated. All were on probationary status.
Mammoth Cave depends on seasonal employees during the busy spring and summer tourist seasons.
Tourism to Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area brings in millions of dollars to Edmonson, Hart and Barren counties in South Central Kentucky.
What about Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest?
Another major tourism draw — the Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest — also lost employees on probationary status. The Daniel Boone National Forest covers 21 counties and 708,000 acres. It also includes Cave Run recreation area outside of Morehead.
It’s not known how many were cut, but U.S. Forest Service employees were also part of the recall of terminated employees.
According to a statement posted on the U.S. Department of Agricultural website, probationary employees are being reinstated and will receive back pay. The U.S. Forest Service is part of the USDA.
“As part of a phased plan for the terminated probationary employees to return-to-duty, they have temporarily been placed on paid administrative leave,” the statement said. “The probationary employees have been restored to the respective employment status they each held prior to their termination. USDA is paying each probationary employee any commensurate back pay, from the respective date of termination.”
Officials with the USDA did not immediately respond to emails asking if Kentucky Forest Service employees have returned to work and how many were originally cut.
Pete Fingerson, director of Powell County Tourism, said he heard from one forestry employee who was recalled. That employee is expected to return to work on Tuesday.
Fingerson does not know if all of the nine terminated probationary employees who were believed to be fired have been recalled.
Still, it’s good news as good weather is bringing more people to Red River Gorge, Fingerson said. This weekend alone 600 people stopped by the Powell County Tourism’s Visitors’ Center.
The popular climbing and hiking destination became a favorite for Kentucky natives and out-of-state tourists during the coronavirus pandemic.
Its popularity has only grown in recent years, Fingerson said.
In 2023, 25,000 people came to the visitors’ center. In 2024, that number jumped to 35,000. That figure only includes people who stop by the Visitors’ Center. Many people, particularly those familiar with the Red River Gorge, don’t check in at the center, Fingerson said.
“I am very, very cautiously optimistic,” Fingerson said of the recall. Still, Fingerson said he has been told that there may be further staff cuts in coming months.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM.
