This bill expands the housing and workforce authorities of federal land management agencies, particularly the National Park Service and Forest Service, to address staffing challenges in remote park and forest locations. The legislation allows these agencies to acquire land near their sites for employee housing, conduct rental operations, and partner with states, tribes, private entities, and nonprofits to develop workforce housing solutions. It also streamlines hiring for permanent residents near federal lands, extends permits for Forest Service workforce housing to 50 years, and enables seasonal park employees to be rehired more easily across different park locations without geographic restrictions. Within 18 months, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture must submit a comprehensive assessment of workforce housing needs at federal land agencies, and the Government Accountability Office must review how budget rules and agency guidance affect employee housing programs and recommend reforms. The bill requires the Forest Service to report any emergency spending on employee subsistence to Congress within 30 days, with limited exceptions for natural disasters and terrorism. These authorities generally expire on September 30, 2030.
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