Direct Hire To Fight Fires

This bill would grant the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior permanent direct-hire authority to fill wildland firefighter and support roles within the Forest Service and other Interior agencies. It proposes that these departments implement new recruitment and retention policies, such as streamlining the hiring process and making it easier for personnel to transfer between agencies. Additionally, the departments would be required to publish annual reports on a public website detailing firefighter vacancies by state and identifying specific barriers to filling those positions.

This bill directly affects the Department of Agriculture, specifically the Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior by granting them permanent direct-hire authority for personnel. The legislation also impacts wildland firefighters and firefighting support staff through the implementation of new recruitment and retention policies, including streamlined hiring and reduced barriers for interagency transfers. Additionally, the bill requires these agencies to provide public reports on workforce needs and vacancy data to Congress.

• Permanent direct-hire authority for firefighting roles. Grants the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior permanent authority to directly hire personnel for wildland firefighter and firefighting support positions.
• Recruitment and retention policy implementation. Requires the departments to establish policies aimed at recruiting and retaining personnel, including streamlining hiring processes and easing transfers between agencies.
• Annual congressional reporting and public data disclosure. Mandates an annual report to Congress and the public regarding projected staffing needs, vacancy counts by state, and identified obstacles to filling those positions.

• H.R. 435, Direct Hire to Fight Fires
  Apr 14, 2026 · As reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 8, 2026

The bill grants permanent direct-hire authority to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior for wildland firefighting roles, modifying existing hiring procedures for the Forest Service and Interior agencies. It also mandates changes to interagency transfer policies to reduce barriers for personnel moving between these federal departments.

The bill aims to enhance the recruitment and retention of wildland firefighters by providing permanent direct-hire authority to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. It seeks to streamline hiring processes, reduce interagency transfer barriers, and increase transparency through annual public reporting on staffing needs and vacancies.