H.R. 4672: To extend the break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements, and other purposes.
Sponsor
Josh Harder
Democrat · CA-9
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Why it matters
Federal wildland firefighters who lost retirement credit because of service gaps could now reclaim it for work performed as far back as October 1, 2003, if they act before leaving federal service.
OPM is central to making the fix work. The bill directs the OPM Director to inform eligible people of their entitlement and to help them get verification records from the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, both of which hold relevant records. Money goes into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund in the Treasury of the United States. One thing the bill does not do: it says nothing here allows or requires extra Thrift Savings Fund contributions that otherwise would not be required.
What does H.R. 4672 do?
Wildland supervisors get 24-month break allowance
The bill amends 5 U.S.C. § 8401(14) so a wildland firefighter can qualify for firefighter retirement treatment in a supervisory or administrative position after at least 3 years of wildland fire duties, even with breaks in service, as long as those breaks total not more than 24 months.
Nonwildland rule stays stricter: 3 years, no break
For nonwildland firefighters, the definition still requires at least 3 years performing work directly connected to the control and extinguishment of nonwildland fires, followed by a direct move into a supervisory or administrative job with no break in service.
Retroactive credit reaches back to October 1, 2003
A current federal employee on the date of enactment can seek retirement credit for service performed between October 1, 2003, and the day before enactment if that service missed firefighter status only because of a break in service and would now qualify under the new wildland 24-month rule.
Workers must elect credit before separation
Eligible individuals must submit a written election before separating from service, and if they no longer work for the agency where the service occurred, they must file the election with that former agency instead.
Back payments include interest under federal formulas
To receive the added credit, the employee must pay the additional retirement deductions that would have been withheld under 5 U.S.C. § 8422, plus interest under 5 U.S.C. § 8334(e), while the prior employing agency must send the added federal contributions that would have been owed under 5 U.S.C. § 8423, also with interest under 5 U.S.C. § 8334(e), to OPM.
OPM, Agriculture, Interior must help verify records
The Office of Personnel Management must inform entitled individuals of their credit and annuity-computation rights and, upon request, help them obtain verification from the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, which hold the service records needed to prove eligibility.
Who benefits from H.R. 4672?
Current federal wildland firefighters with past service gaps
They are the clearest winners because service between October 1, 2003, and the day before enactment can be restored for retirement purposes if it previously failed only because breaks in service exceeded the old standard but fit within the new total cap of 24 months.
Wildland fire supervisors and administrators
Employees who spent not less than 3 years doing frontline wildland fire work and later moved into supervisory or administrative roles can keep or gain firefighter retirement treatment even if they had breaks in service, as long as those breaks total no more than 24 months.
Employees with service at Agriculture or Interior
Workers whose records sit with the Department of Agriculture or Department of the Interior benefit because the bill specifically directs OPM to help obtain verification from those departments, making it easier to prove service from prior years.
Eligible employees nearing retirement
People still in federal service on the date of enactment may be able to improve their annuity calculation if they make the written election before separating and pay the required additional employee deductions plus interest.
Who is affected by H.R. 4672?
Office of Personnel Management
OPM must receive agency remittances, inform entitled individuals of their rights, and help verify records with Agriculture and Interior. It also oversees deposits into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund in the Treasury of the United States.
Former and current employing agencies
Agencies must process written elections and, for prior service, remit the added employer retirement contributions that would have been due under 5 U.S.C. § 8423, plus interest under 5 U.S.C. § 8334(e).
Nonwildland federal firefighters
They are affected because the bill preserves the tougher standard for them: at least 3 years of qualifying nonwildland duties, direct transfer to a supervisory or administrative position, and no break in service.
Current employees seeking retroactive credit
They must take action themselves. The bill requires a written election before separation and payment of added employee deductions under 5 U.S.C. § 8422 with interest, so the benefit is not automatic.
H.R. 4672 Common Questions
Can federal wildland firefighters get retirement credit back to October 1, 2003 for service gaps?
Yes. Under HR4672 Section 1(b), a current federal employee can claim firefighter retirement credit for qualifying service performed from October 1, 2003, through the day before enactment if it was denied only because of a break in service.
How much break in service is allowed for wildland firefighter retirement under HR4672?
Under HR4672 Section 1(a), a wildland firefighter moving into a supervisory or administrative role may still qualify if total breaks in service do not exceed 24 months and the employee has at least 3 years of wildland fire duties.
Can a federal wildland firefighter still qualify for retirement coverage after moving into a supervisor job?
Yes. According to HR4672 Section 1(a), wildland firefighters can qualify in supervisory or administrative positions after at least 3 years of wildland firefighting, even with up to 24 months of total breaks in service.
Does HR4672 require back payments with interest to get retroactive firefighter retirement credit?
Yes. Under HR4672 Section 1(b), the employee must pay the extra retirement deductions that would have applied under 5 U.S.C. 8422, plus interest under 5 U.S.C. 8334(e).
Does the employing agency also have to pay missed federal retirement contributions under the firefighter break bill?
Yes. According to HR4672 Section 1(b), the prior employing agency must send the additional federal contributions owed under 5 U.S.C. 8423, plus interest under 5 U.S.C. 8334(e), to OPM.
Can I elect retroactive firefighter retirement credit after I leave federal service?
No. Under HR4672 Section 1(b), the written election must be submitted before separation from service.
Which agency do I file with if my qualifying wildland firefighter service was at a different federal agency?
Under HR4672 Section 1(b), if you no longer work for the agency where the service occurred, you must file the written election with that former agency.
Does HR4672 change the no-break rule for nonwildland firefighter supervisors?
No. Under HR4672 Section 1(a), nonwildland firefighters still must move directly into a supervisory or administrative position after at least 3 years of service with no break in service.
Does the firefighter retirement break bill require extra Thrift Savings Plan contributions?
No. According to HR4672 Section 1(b), nothing in the bill allows or requires additional Thrift Savings Fund contributions that otherwise would not be required.
Can OPM help me get Agriculture or Interior records to prove wildland firefighter retirement eligibility?
Yes. Under HR4672 Section 1(b), OPM must inform eligible individuals of their rights and, on request, assist in obtaining verification records from the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior.
Based on H.R. 4672 bill text
HR4672 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
About the Sponsor
Josh Harder
Democrat, California's 9th congressional district · 7 years in Congress
Committees: Appropriations
View full profile →
Cosponsors (2)
All 2 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 2 states: Florida, Pennsylvania.
Committee Sponsors
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
0 of 46 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
21 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4672 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Jul 23, 2025
Official Sources
Official congressional bill page with status, text, sponsors, and actions for HR4672.
OPM retirement guidance for special category employees, including firefighter retirement coverage under FERS.
Official OPM handbook covering federal retirement administration, service credit, deposits, and agency processing rules relevant to this bill.
Official U.S. Code page for 5 U.S.C. 8401, the statutory definitions section amended by the bill's firefighter language.
Official U.S. Code page for employee deductions under FERS, directly cited in the bill's retroactive payment requirement.
Official U.S. Code page for government contributions under FERS, relevant to the bill's requirement that employing agencies remit missed contributions.
Official U.S. Code page containing the interest provision cross-referenced by the bill for retroactive employee and agency payments.
Official OPM retirement portal likely to host implementation guidance, forms, and instructions if the bill becomes law.
Official USDA Forest Service wildland fire program page, relevant because Agriculture holds records for some affected employees.
Official Department of the Interior wildland fire page, relevant because Interior may hold service records needed to verify eligibility.
H.R. 4672 Bill Text
“To extend the break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements, and other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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