Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025

This bill would create a new pay system for federal wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. Currently, federal wildland firefighters have received only temporary pay increases that are set to expire. This bill would make those pay increases permanent by establishing a specialized pay scale that increases base salaries across all grade levels, with larger percentage increases for lower-paid positions. The bill would also provide additional premium pay for firefighters deployed to major fire incidents lasting more than 36 hours and would require federal agencies to develop consistent policies promoting rest and recovery to reduce burnout.

The bill addresses a significant workforce challenge: low federal pay has made it difficult for agencies to recruit and retain wildland firefighters, who often leave for better-paying positions with state agencies or private employers. By establishing permanent, higher base pay and additional deployment compensation, the legislation aims to improve workforce stability and ensure the federal government can maintain adequate staffing to respond to wildfires. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.