Special Early Retirement Policy for Federal Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters

Federal employees whose primary duties are: (1) investigating, apprehending, or detaining persons suspected or convicted of Federal crimes; or (2) controlling and extinguishing fires or maintaining and using firefighting apparatus and equipment are entitled to special retirement benefits, including earlier retirement and a more generous annuity formula than other Federal employees. About 52,000 employees in various Federal agencies and the District of Columbia government are covered under the special retirement program. Although there may have been a need for the special retirement program when it was established in 1947, the continued need for the program is questionable. The special retirement policy is an expensive method of marginally reducing the age of retirement. Congress should reevaluate the need for providing the special retirement benefits to law enforcement and firefighting personnel. If the special early retirement policy continues, Congress should: reevaluate the eligibility criteria, mandatory retirement provision, and benefit structure; and amend the law to require additional retirement contributions by employing agencies.