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PR26-0299 • 2025

First Responder Retention Efforts Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

First Responder Retention Efforts Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-01-16
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how long the change will last or other factors affecting recruitment and retention besides retirement age.

Emergency Resolution to Remove Mandatory Retirement Age for Police and Firefighters

This emergency resolution removes the mandatory retirement age of 60 years for police officers and firefighters in Washington, D.C., aiming to address staffing shortages.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that police officers and firefighters must retire at age 60.
  • Aims to help MPD and FEMS retain experienced staff longer.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Police officers and firefighters in the District of Columbia
  • Public safety agencies like MPD and FEMS

Terms To Know

Emergency Declaration Resolution
A type of resolution that allows for quick action to address urgent issues.
Mandatory Retirement Age
The age at which a person is required by law or policy to retire from their job.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how long the change will last.
  • Does not address other factors affecting recruitment and retention besides retirement age.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0305, Effective from Jan 06, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000468

  2. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  3. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0305

  4. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  5. 2025-11-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  6. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-09-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  8. 2025-09-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2025-09-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0299 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

First Responder Retention Efforts Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-305

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

January 6, 2026

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Policemen and
Firemen’s Retirement and Disability Act to remove the Metropolitan Police Department
and Fire and Emergency Medical Services mandatory retirement age.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “First Responder Retention Efforts Emergency Declaration
Resolution of 2026”.

Sec. 2. (a) Over the last several years, maintaining appropriate staffing levels across the
District’s public safety agencies has been a challenge. Both the Fire and Emergency Medical
Services Department (“FEMS”) and the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) have
struggled with short staffing and significant overtime pressures. Staffing shortages within FEMS
and MPD have become a major issue across the Metropolitan area. While recruitment and
retention levels within MPD have improved to about 3,200 officers as of August 2025, former
MPD Chief Smith said an ideal staffing level would be closer to 4,000.
(b) Emergency legislation is needed to eliminate the mandatory retirement age of 60
years for both MPD and FEMS members.
(c) This change will help MPD and FEMS retain their most experienced members for
longer, mitigate the retirement bubble, and better anticipate future staffing needs. This is crucial.
Continued support and investment from the government is needed to ensure the stability of the
departments and their ability to retain experienced police officers and firefighters, and to allow
those individuals to use their experience and expertise to train new officers and firefighters.
(d) Therefore, emergency legislation is needed to continue recruiting and retaining key
members of our public safety infrastructure in the District.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the First
Responder Retention Efforts Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 be adopted after a single
reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.