, whichever is lower, through 2023. The firefighters will receive back pay for the raises, dating to October 2021.
"This is incredibly good news for federal wildland firefighters all across the country," said Randy Erwin, president of the union."There has been a serious recruitment and retention problem for wildland firefighters at federal agencies this year." Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was among a group of lawmakers who had been pushing the administration to resolve the pay issue amid worries that it would further exacerbate staff shortages as the West enters the hot summer months. Heinrich called the two-year pay fix"progress" but said more needs to be done. New Mexico this year has endured the largest wildfire on record in the state.
The issue of recruitment, retention and low pay for wildland firefighters had been on Biden's radar since early in his administration.