Sponsors (17)
The bill improves training continuity, planning, and financial protection for fire departments—strengthening preparedness—while imposing new administrative requirements, reimbursement limits, and potential constraints on the Academy's operational flexibility and costs.
Fire departments (career and volunteer) will receive reimbursement for travel and temporary backfill costs when the National Fire Academy cancels courses, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for enrolled personnel and local departments.
Firefighters (career and volunteer) keep continued access to professional training (over 40,000 participants in FY2023), helping maintain skills and local department readiness.
Congress and affected departments receive advance notice of large-scale cancellations (60 and 45 days) and the bill clarifies the Academy's authority and notice requirements, improving planning so departments can reschedule or find alternatives before training is disrupted.
Small and rural fire departments may face administrative burdens and cash-flow strain because reimbursements could be delayed and require itemized claims submitted within 30 days, stretching limited staff and budgets.
Departments are excluded from reimbursement for cancellations deemed for 'good cause' (e.g., facility closure, instructor illness, national emergency), leaving some disruptions uncompensated even when departments had planned and incurred costs.
Requiring congressional notice and added procedural steps for large-scale cancellations could slow the Academy's ability to make rapid administrative or operational changes when needed, limiting flexibility.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes notice, reimbursement, and reporting rules for large-scale cancellations of Academy courses and requires a GAO study of 2025 cancellations.
Introduced September 11, 2025 by April McClain Delaney · Last progress September 11, 2025
Creates a formal process for canceling courses at the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control by defining “large-scale cancellation actions,” requiring advance notice to Congress and affected students/agencies, and establishing deadlines and reimbursement rules for expenses when the Academy cancels training. It also requires a GAO study of 2025 large-scale cancellations and related enrollment and program-impact data.