The nation’s top federal fire training academy suspended all classes on Saturday due to ongoing funding freezes and staffing cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that National Fire Academy (NFA) courses were canceled while the agency reviews its programs and spending to align with the administration’s priorities. Instructors were also instructed to halt all future travel until further notice.
Firefighters, EMS providers, and other first responders from across the country typically attend the NFA’s free training programs at its Maryland campus, which are funded by the federal government.
Marc Bashoor, a former Maryland fire chief and West Virginia emergency services director with 44 years of experience in fire safety, emphasized the importance of the NFA, calling it “a powerhouse for the fire service.” He stated that the academy is crucial for maintaining a premier fire service, as it is the primary resource for first responders to come together and learn from each other.
The National Fire Academy, which also hosts the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial, was established in 1973 to address the rising number of fatal fires across the country. The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control envisioned it as the “West Point of the Fire Service,” according to a report from the organization.
Bashoor mentioned that the National Fire Academy was preparing to welcome a new group of fire safety officers for training next week when the sudden cancellation occurred.
“People had already booked their flights and made travel arrangements, and then they received an email saying, ‘Sorry, it’s been canceled,’” he said. “It’s really frustrating.”
For firefighters, especially those on the frontlines of deadly fires like the ones that devastated California this year, the closure of such a vital training institution is demoralizing. Bashoor explained that shutting down the NFA, based on assumptions of waste and fraud, could make it harder to coordinate responses in future emergencies. He pointed out that the training provided by the academy played a key role in preventing further deaths and destruction during the California fires.
FEMA and the National Fire Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
During a visit to disaster zones in California in January, President Trump suggested he was considering the possibility of completely eliminating FEMA, hinting at major changes to the country’s primary disaster response agency.
The firing of U.S. Forest Service employees following the deadly California wildfires also sparked significant backlash. Discharged workers and officials expressed concerns that the cuts would result in fewer personnel and resources, making it more difficult to prevent and combat future wildfires.