Federal Firefighters Families First Act

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act would reform working conditions and retirement benefits for federal firefighters who protect military bases, research institutions, and other federal infrastructure. Currently, these firefighters work 72-hour weeks—nearly double the average American workweek—with little time to rest between shifts. The bill would establish a maximum workweek of 60 hours and require the Office of Personnel Management to set regulations defining the maximum hours in a firefighter's workweek.

The bill also addresses long-standing retirement calculation problems. Federal firefighters currently face penalties in their pension calculations, with approximately 26% of their pre-scheduled overtime hours excluded from retirement benefits. The legislation would change how retirement benefits are calculated by including the full value of regularly scheduled overtime hours, ensuring firefighters receive fair compensation based on all hours worked during their service.

Additionally, the bill seeks to improve pay equality between federal firefighters and their counterparts in municipal and other public sector fire services, while enhancing recruitment and retention efforts for federal fire services. The legislation has bipartisan support and is backed by major firefighter unions and federal employee organizations.