Direct Hire To Fight Fires

Sponsored byRep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]CA· Introduced 15 January 2025

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

Actions

Amendments

Committees

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Since introduced

Introduced

Committee

Passed Chamber

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Enacted

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Latest action

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.

8 January 2026·6 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 25 June 2025

Direct Hire To Fight Fires

This bill provides permanent direct-hire authority to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to fill wildland firefighter and firefighting support positions in the Forest Service and Interior agencies.

The bill also requires USDA and Interior to implement policies to recruit and retain wildland firefighters and related personnel, such as by streamlining the hiring process and reducing barriers for firefighters transferring between agencies.

Further, the bill requires USDA and Interior to annually report related data to Congress, including the number of firefighters needed for the coming year, the number of firefighting vacancies in each state, and existing barriers to filling such vacancies. The report must also be made available on a public website.

Timeline

10 actions

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
8 January 2026 · Committee
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
8 January 2026 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
15 July 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
15 July 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
4 April 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
15 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
15 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
15 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
15 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
15 January 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

2 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]CA

Cosponsors

Republican2100%

Republican:Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]CA
Republican:Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]CA

Classification

Policy area

Government Operations and Politics

Legislative subjects

Congressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of the InteriorEmployee hiringFederal officialsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForests, forestry, treesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archives

Committees

Agriculture Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To15 Jan 2025
- Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee
  - Referred to4 Apr 2025
Natural Resources Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To15 Jan 2025
- Markup By15 Jul 2025
- Reported By8 Jan 2026
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To15 Jan 2025

Reports

H. Rept. 119-432

Track Direct Hire To Fight Fires as it moves through Congress