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Direct Hire To Fight Fires

USA119th CongressHR-435| House 
| Updated: 1/8/2026
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (2)
Jay Obernolte (Republican)Kevin Kiley (Republican)

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.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1747
Direct Hire To Fight Fires

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3499
Direct Hire To Fight Fires
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 15, 2025
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.
Apr 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Jul 15, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 15, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 8, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1747
    Direct Hire To Fight Fires


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3499
    Direct Hire To Fight Fires


  • January 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 15, 2025
    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.


  • April 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.


  • July 15, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 15, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 8, 2026
    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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1747
Direct Hire To Fight Fires

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3499
Direct Hire To Fight Fires
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 15, 2025
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.
Apr 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Jul 15, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 15, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 8, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1747
    Direct Hire To Fight Fires


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3499
    Direct Hire To Fight Fires


  • January 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 15, 2025
    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.


  • April 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.


  • July 15, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • July 15, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 8, 2026
    Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-432, Part I.
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (2)
Jay Obernolte (Republican)Kevin Kiley (Republican)

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