A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation on May 13, 2026, to extend workers' compensation benefits to civilians, including law enforcement agents, who developed illnesses after exposure to toxic burn pits. The bill, named the 'Burn Pit Accountability for Civilians Act,' aims to close a gap in the 2022 PACT Act, which primarily covered military personnel.
Under the proposed bill, federal civilian employees, contractors, and law enforcement officers who served at overseas military bases with burn pits would be eligible for compensation for conditions such as cancer, respiratory diseases, and other ailments linked to toxic exposure. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), along with Representatives Raúl Ruiz (D-CA) and Brian Mast (R-FL).
The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that over 3.5 million veterans have been screened for burn pit exposure under the PACT Act, but civilians have been largely excluded from similar protections. The new bill would require the Department of Labor to process claims within 90 days and establish a presumption of service connection for certain illnesses.
Advocacy groups, including the Burn Pits 360 organization, have praised the bill, noting that thousands of civilians worked alongside troops at bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost $1.2 billion over 10 years, offset by closing tax loopholes for large corporations.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Lawmakers hope for a vote before the end of the year.
