Please Ask Your Senators and Representatives to Start the Application Periods for DHS Grants
There is a serious delay in the start of the application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 homeland security grants.
The State Homeland Security Grant program (SHSGP) and the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) are grants at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that help state and local governments prepare for acts of terrorism. The SHSGP program funds intelligence fusion centers; state mutual aid systems; state urban search and rescue teams; and other resources. The UASI program helps major metropolitan areas conduct exercises and purchase specialized equipment to respond to acts of terrorism. These grant programs play critical roles in the U.S. homeland security preparedness by providing an incentive for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to work together to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.
Congress appropriated $468 million for the SHSGP program in FY 2025. It also appropriated $553.5 million for the UASI program. President Trump signed the continuing resolution to fund the government on March 15. However, as the end of the fiscal year in September approaches, DHS has yet to start the application period for these important grant programs. Meanwhile, the U.S. faces an increased threat from both domestic and foreign terrorist groups.
The IAFC asks that you please raise this issue with your Senators and Representative. Please ask them to contact DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ask her to re-start the application period for the SHSGP and UASI program. We have a VoterVoice campaign running to help facilitate your request to start the FY 2025 SHSGP and UASI application periods.
The September 30 end of the fiscal year is fast approaching. DHS cannot allow a delay in the application periods for FY 2025 SHSGP and UASI grants.
IACP and IAFC released a joint statement in support of FirstNet
On Thursday, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the IAFC released a joint statement reiterating our strong support for the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority. In the statement, the IAFC and IACP urged Congress to strike the current 2027 sunset date and preserve the integrity of the federal FirstNet Authority, which is a cornerstone of modern public safety communications. Now that Congress has passed the Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) enacting many of President Trump’s campaign promises, it can focus on the needs of local first responders by preserving the federal FirstNet Authority.