Dive Brief:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday announced more than $1.5 billion in funding opportunities across seven preparedness grant programs to help communities fight terrorism and other threats.
- More than $1 billion is available through FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Grant Program, designed to help state and local governments improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, strengthen critical infrastructure cybersecurity, protect the integrity of U.S. elections, support border security efforts and enhance protection at large events.
- FEMA also made more than $500 million available for six grant programs protecting houses of worship, port authorities, local and territorial government agencies, transportation infrastructure, Amtrak and intercity bus systems from acts of terrorism.
Dive Insight:
Since President Donald Trump signed an executive order shifting more responsibility for disaster preparedness from FEMA to local governments in March 2025, cities and states have filed multiple lawsuits attempting to claw back federal funding opportunities.
A U.S. District Court judge in March ordered FEMA to reverse its termination of $4.5 billion in Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program funding. FEMA has made $1 billion in federal funding available through the newly relaunched program, which helps states and local governments to protect their communities from natural disasters.
In April, FEMA announced more than $250 million in Flood Mitigation Assistance awards to help states reduce their risk and prevent damage from flood disasters.
Earlier this month, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a 2027 Homeland Security spending bill that proposes $34.1 billion for FEMA programs — an increase of more than $2 billion over current funding. That bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
Robert Fenton, the senior official performing the duties of the FEMA administrator until the Senate approves a permanent chief, said in a statement that the funding opportunities announced yesterday are “just one way that the Department is supporting state and local governments and aligning their efforts with national security priorities.”
The Homeland Security Grant Program encompasses the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative and Operation Stonegarden, which provides funding to enhance cooperation and coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the U.S. land and water borders. To receive SHSP and UASI funding, grant recipients “are expected to align projects along core national security priorities identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security,” FEMA stated in the funding announcement.
Notice of funding opportunities are available at grants.gov. The application period closes July 24.
