SCOOP: Interior Department permanently increasing pay for thousands of wildland firefighters

THE LOWDOWN:

• Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that America’s wildland firefighters are in for a big raise and one of Congress’s top appropriators is thrilled.

• There are 11,200 wildland firefighters across the country, and Burgum is poised to allocate millions of dollars towards making their salary increases permanent, a Department of Interior source told the Reporter.

• Burgum’s moves complement work that Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) has pushed for for years in Congress. Simpson — who previously told the Washington Reporter that he was “really pleased” with Trump’s selection of Burgum to helm Interior — recently met with Burgum.

• The two discussed how Simpson helped secure the provision in the CR that is allowing Burgum to raise firefighter pay, Simpson’s office told the Reporter.

While President Donald Trump and his Cabinet officials are cutting billions of dollars from the federal government’s budget, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that America’s wildland firefighters are in for a big raise — and one of Congress’s top appropriators is thrilled.

The continuing resolution passed by Congress allows the Interior Department to permanently increase pay for wildland firefighters, and Burgum is already on the task.

There are 11,200 wildland firefighters across the country, and Burgum is poised to allocate millions of dollars towards making their salary increases permanent, a Department of Interior source told the Reporter.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department of the Interior has implemented permanent pay increases for Wildland Firefighters,” Burgum told the Reporter. “The Trump administration is grateful to the courageous men and women who embody the American spirit by selflessly risking their lives to protect their neighbors, protect their communities, and preserve our natural heritage.”

Burgum’s moves complement work that Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) has pushed for for years in Congress. Simpson — who previously told the Washington Reporter that he was “really pleased” with Trump’s selection of Burgum to helm Interior — recently met with Burgum.

The two discussed how Simpson helped secure the provision in the CR that is allowing Burgum to raise firefighter pay, Simpson’s office told the Reporter.

“The men and women who fight catastrophic wildfires across the nation deserve stability and adequate compensation for their courageous work,” Simpson said of his work. Simpson is the Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.

“A permanent pay fix for our wildland firefighters will strengthen recruitment and retention while providing financial security to the first responders who protect our communities. I have long fought for this critical provision, and I am grateful to my colleagues and the Trump administration for their support in making it a reality.”

During the meeting, Simpson also discussed prioritizing Indian Country throughout America with Burgum.