Asheville Forest Service worker laid off by Trump says his termination was rescinded
The U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist who was fired under the Trump administration’s recent federal employee layoffs said his termination was rescinded on Sunday because his position was deemed “Mission Critical.”
Mike Knoerr, the only wildlife biologist covering the more than 500,000-acre Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina, said on social media that the revocation came just a couple days after he returned his equipment and finished the exit process.
“I was provided no information regarding what prompted this change, or how many of my colleagues received similar letters,” Knoerr’s post said. “I am not able to comment further.”
Knoerr could not be immediately reached on Monday.
The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency that manages the country’s forests, public lands, and wildlife and employs over 35,000 people across the country, its website says.
President Donald Trump’s administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by billionaire campaign donor Elon Musk, have laid off thousands off federal employees in an attempt to reduce the government workforce.
This included 3,400 U.S. Forest Service workers. Public safety positions, including firefighters, were exempt from the terminations.
Jenifer Bunty, another terminated Forest Service employee from Western North Carolina, posted on Facebook on Feb. 17 that the agency had lost 17 employees, all working on hurricane recovery projects in North Carolina forests.
It appears Bunty’s post was deleted and it is not clear if her termination was also rescinded.
Federal employees going through their probationary period were primarily targeted by the layoffs and told their performance was the reason for their termination.
Knoerr was two weeks away from completing a 12-month probationary period when he was initially told he was being terminated. He, Bunty, and other employees going through their probationary period were told their performance was the reason for the layoffs.
But both Knoerr and Bunty have said that they received excellent performance reviews, and Knoerr was set to advance to “career status” after his supervisor recently filed paperwork.
Lawsuits have been filed by labor unions, including the National Federation of Federal Employees, challenging the terminations of probationary employees. Forbes reported some positions have been reinstated.
It isn’t clear how many Forest Service workers have had their terminations rescinded or been rehired.
Knoerr said he returns to work on Tuesday.
“I am deeply thankful to the outpouring of support from all of you. Your voice was important,” said Knoerr, who lives in Asheville. “Your humanity is something I’ll never forget.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM.
