FEMA Halts In-Person Firefighter Training Following Federal Budget Directives

The National Fire Academy suspends classes as the Trump administration pushes for federal cost-cutting and agency realignment.

FEMA has canceled all in-person National Fire Academy (NFA) courses, citing a review of programs to align with Trump administration priorities.
The decision impacts thousands of firefighters and emergency responders who rely on the NFA for leadership and hazardous materials training.
Critics argue the suspension undermines essential disaster preparedness, especially as climate-related fire disasters increase in frequency and severity.
The move comes after President Trump expressed interest in dismantling FEMA, accusing it of inefficiency and political bias, while promoting state-led disaster responses.
A federal judge had previously ordered FEMA to resume spending, making this cancellation a direct defiance of that ruling.