The National Fire Academy is Open for In-Person Education
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced its plans to re-start in-person training at the National Fire Academy (NFA). Classes will begin on June 2.
The NFA still has openings for its courses. You can apply through the NFA website. You can apply through the NFA website.
DHS and FEMA Announces SAFER and FP&S Grant Application Periods Start on May 23
The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA announced that the application periods for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants and the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants will start on May 23.
The application period will open May 23 at 9 AM (Eastern) and close THURSDAY, July 3 at 5 PM (Eastern). Please note, the application periods will close on the Thursday ahead of Independence Day.
The SAFER grants can be used to hire career firefighters or fund recruitment and retention campaigns for volunteer firefighters. Congress appropriated $324 million for the SAFER grant awards in the FY 2024 cycle. There is a 36-month period of performance for Firefighter Hiring Activity under these grants. More information about the SAFER grants awards can be found on the FEMA SAFER website.
The FP&S grants can be used to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire related hazards. Also, they can be used to fund research that aims at improving firefighter safety, health, or well-being through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries. There is $32.4 million available for FP&S grants in the FY 2024 cycle. More information about the FP&S grants can be found on the FEMA FP&S website.
To begin planning for your application, you can now access the both the SAFER Notice of Funding Opportunity and the FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity.
House Passes Reconciliation Bill to Extend Tax Cuts and Enhance Border Security
After an all-night string of votes, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) early Thursday morning. The bill concludes two weeks of negotiations in the House and sends the reconciliation process to the Senate. The bill’s effects on the fire service remain unchanged from last week’s Washington Update, with some tax exceptions.
The House-passed version of the bill includes a “no tax on overtime” provision that would provide a tax deduction on overtime pay for employees whose total compensation (base pay + overtime) is less than the “Highly Compensated Employee” standard. In tax year 2024, this threshold was $150,000 in total compensation. This provision expires in 2028 unless renewed by Congress.
Federal firefighter retirement contribution rates are not affected by the bill’s rate increase for other federal employees. Federal firefighters and police officers will continue to have a special retirement contribution rate of 9.8% even as the rates will increase for other federal employees. Additionally, pension calculation shifts like moving to “High-5” from “High-3” will also not apply to firefighters and police officers. There is no change to early retirement rules for federal firefighters.
The Senate must now consider this legislation.