The Department of the Interior has announced permanent pay increases for federal and tribal wildland firefighters across the United States. The decision aims to address growing challenges as wildfires become larger and more destructive, posing threats to communities, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated, "Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking decisive action to support the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect American communities from devastating wildfires." He emphasized that the pay increase is a recognition of the extreme conditions and demanding work these firefighters endure. "This permanent pay increase ensures they are fairly compensated for their sacrifices," he added.
The pay increases were part of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (H.R. 1968), which was passed by Congress on March 14 and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. The legislation introduces new special salary pay tables for federal wildland firefighters at all levels, including temporary and seasonal workers. It also makes Bureau of Indian Affairs funding for Tribal Nations permanent, allowing them to offer pay supplements to tribal wildland firefighters.
In addition to replacing temporary pay supplements from previous years, the law introduces Incident Response Premium Pay. This provision enables all federal employees to earn additional compensation for extended deployments during qualifying incidents.
Last year, nearly 65,000 wildfires burned over 8.9 million acres in the U.S., endangering communities and critical infrastructure. The trend of increasingly severe wildfires continues this year with significant fires reported in Southern California and the Southeast recently.
The Department of the Interior emphasizes that ongoing investment in the wildland fire workforce is crucial for public protection and reducing future wildfire risks. The announced pay raises are intended to help recruit and retain top talent necessary for achieving these objectives.
