(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), is calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to direct the National Fire Academy (NFA) to resume training courses for firefighters that were cancelled due to the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze. The letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton comes after the delegation received an outpouring of concern from Granite State firefighters who rely on the free programs offered by NFA to maintain and improve the skills they use to save lives.
The delegation wrote, in part: “We are writing to express our concern that the National Fire Academy (NFA) has cancelled courses pending a review of agency programs. Firefighters and other stakeholders throughout New Hampshire have contacted us to express their disbelief that firefighters will not be able to receive the instruction and training they need to maintain and improve the skills they use to save lives.”
They continued: “Since its establishment, the NFA has offered training and related programs to generations of firefighters and other first responders. We have heard from New Hampshire firefighters and first responders that these are specialized courses the NFA provides for free that are not available elsewhere in the U.S.”
They concluded: “Denying or delaying crucial training for first responders, including firefighters, will put their lives at risk and the lives of the people across the U.S. who depend on firefighters to save their lives and livelihoods. We urge FEMA to immediately direct the NFA to resume training and related activities.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
