The Emergency Leave Transfer Program allows federal employees who are negatively affected to apply to receive annual leave donated by other federal employees. If the 2025 California – Los Angeles County wildfires negatively affected you or a family member to such a degree that you need time off from work, you may apply to become an ELTP recipient without having to use your own paid leave.

How to apply

1. Complete OPM form 1637.

2. Contact the HRM Contact Center to submit the forms. We will let you know within 10 days to inform you if the application has been approved or denied.

How to donate

1. Complete OPM form 1638, and

2. Contact the HRM Contact Center to submit the form.

   • You may donate between 1 to 104 hours of annual leave. 

   • You must identify which emergency event you are donating leave to.

   • You may not donate to a specific recipient. Donations are placed into a fund and dispersed to recipients.

   • You may not donate sick leave, compensatory hours, or credit hours. For more information, visit the emergency leave transfer program webpage.

More resources
Please visit employee resources: leave flexibilities during emergencies.

Help is available

You can contact your local Labor Relations specialist for additional information, or your union representative if you are a bargaining unit employee. Contact information for both is located on the HRM Labor Relations website.