Resistance Rangers demand DOI and other agencies comply with court orders and reinstate illegally-fired employees

Two U.S. district court judges ruled on March 13 that mass firings of probationary federal workers in February were illegal, including National Park Service workers under the Department of the Interior (DOI). Judges William Alsup and James Bredar both ordered agencies to reinstate those employees. Promptly after the rulings, the Department of Energy sent a letter to wrongfully terminated employees rescinding their terminations and providing guidance.  However, any compliance from DOI remains to be seen.

In the hearing, Judge Alsup remarked that a clear pattern emerged with agencies citing underperformance in their terminations, despite workers having earned favorable reviews. "It is a sad, sad day,” said Alsup, “when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie.”

Resistance Rangers will not see this ruling as a win until illegally terminated employees from all agencies outlined in the court’s rulings are reinstated in their roles, with back pay and their records cleared. As Judge Alsup noted, it is critical that these employees have the false accusation of “poor performance” removed from their records.

The USDA Forest Service has also failed to bring their unlawfully fired employees back to work, despite being ordered on March 5 to reinstate them and issuing a statement on March 11 that they would do so by March 12. However, to date, most Forest Service employees in question have yet to receive any guidance or return-to-work date.

We urge the public to contact Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to demand immediate reinstatement of unlawfully fired staff.

“Along with many others, I was fired for ‘underperformance’ on February 14, despite having consistently received excellent reviews,” said Erin Cagney, who was fired from the NPS National Capital Parks-East Unit. “With this illegal firing on my record, I have struggled to obtain unemployment benefits, to explain the situation in job interviews, acquire new health insurance coverage, and to attempt to move on with my life. I am eager to get back to work serving the American public, but I can’t do that until the agency complies with court orders.”

Organizers do not represent the National Park Service or Department of the Interior. Views and attitudes expressed in this News Release do not reflect views and attitudes of the National Park Service or Department of the Interior.