Red River Gorge Employees Set to Return to Work Due to a Court Order

The Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest lost employees on probationary status due to, in part, President Donald Trump’s efforts to slash the federal workforce; and part a broader strategy by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to curtail federal spending.

According to court records, multiple lawsuits were filed challenging the terminations. U.S. District Judge James Bredar of Maryland and a federal judge in San Fransico ruled earlier this month terminated employees were illegally fired and must be reinstated; meaning Kentucky probationary employees fired in February may soon be returning to work.

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, part of the USDA, stated in their statement, “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 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.”

The Daniel Boone National Forest covers 21 counties and 708,000 acres. It also includes Cave Run recreation area outside of Morehead.