Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This legislation establishes a direct hire authority for the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, enabling them to appoint qualified individuals to federal wildland firefighting and support positions within the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. This authority bypasses certain competitive hiring procedures, allowing for quicker recruitment into critical roles such as Forestry Technicians, Aircraft Operations, and various support functions eligible for firefighter retirement coverage. Furthermore, the bill mandates the implementation of policies within one year to streamline the hiring process for these positions. These policies are designed to reduce recruitment time, eliminate redundancies in federal hiring, simplify re-hiring for former employees, and ease transfers between agencies. To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, the Secretaries must also submit annual reports to Congress, detailing hiring needs, current employment, vacancies, barriers, and the effectiveness of the new hiring authorities and policies, with these reports also being made publicly available.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
Government Operations and Politics
Congressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of the InteriorEmployee hiringFederal officialsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForests, forestry, treesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archives
Direct Hire To Fight Fires
USA119th CongressHR-435| House
| Updated: 1/8/2026
This legislation establishes a direct hire authority for the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, enabling them to appoint qualified individuals to federal wildland firefighting and support positions within the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. This authority bypasses certain competitive hiring procedures, allowing for quicker recruitment into critical roles such as Forestry Technicians, Aircraft Operations, and various support functions eligible for firefighter retirement coverage. Furthermore, the bill mandates the implementation of policies within one year to streamline the hiring process for these positions. These policies are designed to reduce recruitment time, eliminate redundancies in federal hiring, simplify re-hiring for former employees, and ease transfers between agencies. To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, the Secretaries must also submit annual reports to Congress, detailing hiring needs, current employment, vacancies, barriers, and the effectiveness of the new hiring authorities and policies, with these reports also being made publicly available.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Government Operations and Politics
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Congressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of the InteriorEmployee hiringFederal officialsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForests, forestry, treesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archives