Amid Looming Wildland Firefighter Pay Cuts, Gallego Seeks Wildfire Support from DOD
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin inquiring how the Department of Defense will provide support to states impacted by the rapidly approaching pay cliff for wildland firefighters.
The temporary pay increase for wildland firefighters included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The United States Forest Service estimates that up to half of the wildland firefighter workforce will leave service if pay is cut.
In the letter Rep. Gallego writes:
As I understand it, the Department of Defense has an important role to play in offering support, including drawing on equipment from the Defense Logistics Agency if requested. In particular, I am interested in your response to the following questions:
- Is the Department involved in preparing for the forthcoming pay cliff? If so, how?
- What have been your Department’s contributions to wildland firefighting since the implementation and use of expanded authorities consistent with Section 1060 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023?
- Are there further opportunities to support states as they see increases in wildland fires?
Earlier this month, Rep. Gallego held a press conference with dozens of Arizona wildland firefighters where he touted the need to not only reauthorize the funding for federal wildland firefighters but to pass gold standard legislation called the Tim’s Act—which would make permanent the pay and benefits wildland firefighters received thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It would also address wildland firefighter mental and physical health, and provide housing, retirement, and tuition assistance benefits.
In May, Rep. Gallego held a press conference to discuss his support for the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023 (HONOR Act). The HONOR Act would add a presumptive benefit under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program for exposure-related cancers that firefighters are more likely to suffer from because of their profession. The PSOB program provides federal disability and death benefits to first responders and their families.