The National Police Association Endorses the Fuel the Force Act of 2026: Reducing an Obstacle to Police Recruitment and Retention

INDIANAPOLIS, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Police staffing shortages have contributed to the deterioration of our nation's communities, placed civilian lives in peril, and put officers at greater risk of burnout and harm. This staffing crisis also puts financial pressure on police agencies, which must continually invest thousands of dollars per recruit to replace officers who resign after a short period of time.

The policing profession is in dire need of solutions on different fronts to stop this downward spiral. One practical solution is in the form of a congressional bill called the Fuel the Force Act of 2026 (H.R. 7210). It exempts full-time law enforcement officers with at least five years of service from federal income tax on the first 100,000 dollars of their annual income. This provision applies to officers serving at the federal, state, and local levels.

This bipartisan bill, endorsed by the National Police Association (NPA), was introduced by Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and original co-sponsor, Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (WA-03). It has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. The text for the bill is here.

"Policing isn't a profession one enters for money or glory. It's a calling, with fundamental values like service and duty at the forefront. Financial stress is a reality in policing, however, especially in agencies where officers aren't well compensated. This burden, when compounded by the pressures of twenty-first-century policing, can make the profession less desirable," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "The Fuel the Force Act will help relieve this financial burden by providing officers with an income tax exemption. Even better, it doesn't require the creation of new spending programs," Fitzsimmons added.

The NPA is grateful to Reps. Fitzpatrick and Gluesenkamp for introducing the Fund the Force Act of 2026, a bill that eases the burden of financial stress for our nation's law enforcement officers. When police agencies are adequately staffed, they can more readily fulfill their critical mission of protecting and serving the public. We ask Congress to prioritize our nation's officers and the communities they serve by passing this bill.

To support anti-crime, pro-police legislation, join the NPA's Call to Action team. Receive email alerts on bills, including which lawmakers to contact.

The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and the courts. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.

Media Contact:
Paula Fitzsimmons
3024691765
[email protected]

SOURCE National Police Association