Issa Introduces Reform to Dramatically Speed Up Federal Hiring of Firefighters
Congressman Issa, introduced his Direct Hire to Fight Fire, legislation which grants a permanent authority to federal firefighting agencies to streamline the hiring of essential firefighting roles so that no critical position is left unfilled due to bureaucratic red tape.
“The brushfires and heartbreak unfolding in Los Angeles is yet another wake-up call for my state and indeed the nation to change the policies that contributed to this tragedy,” said Rep. Issa. “Today’s unacceptably slow hiring process means critical positions used to defeat fires go unfilled and blazes burn that much longer. We need this common-sense federal hiring process to bring every available resource where it is needed most.”
The bill specifically grants the Forest Service expedited hiring capabilities, ensuring that skilled personnel are placed where they’re needed. Currently, 58 percent of all California forestlands are owned and managed by the Federal Government, and yet, the Forest Service has limited ability to use Direct Hire Authority. In 2022, for example, the Forest Service was able to hire 4,860 fire positions using DHA, but only able to hire 16 without it. Congress can now delegate Direct Hire Authority to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to fast-track firefighter appointments.
“Wildfires are an all-too-familiar menace in my home region of San Diego and Riverside Counties, and the names of these infernos still echo in our memories: The Cedar Fire, the Harris Fire, the Witch Creek Fire, and the devastating Valley Fire. Now, we add to that terrible list the Palisades, Eaton, Hurts and Auto fires that have scorched tens of thousands of acres, consumed hundreds of homes, and claimed dozens of lives. We owe it to our communities as well as future generations to act decisively and pass this bill,” said Issa.
Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District, which encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.
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