The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the final allocations of nearly $724 million for six Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 competitive preparedness grant programs. This includes $454.5 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, an increase of $149.5 million from FY 2023, aimed at providing critical funding for faith-based groups and others to prevent and protect themselves from current threats.
These allocations, combined with over $1.25 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced earlier this year, total almost $1.98 billion in FY 2024 to help prepare the nation against threats and natural disasters.
The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector to build and sustain capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. The total amount for each grant program is set by Congress and allocated by DHS through a competitive process.
“The Department of Homeland Security is proud to work together with our federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and other partners to increase our nation’s resilience in a constantly evolving threat environment,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The funds announced today will provide communities across the country with vital resources necessary to strengthen their security and guard against terrorism and other threats. The impact of these grants will be measured in lives saved and tragedies averted.”
Preparedness Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2024 include:
- Operation Stonegarden: Provides $81 million to enhance cooperation among state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal law enforcement agencies along U.S. land and water borders.
- Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program: Provides $13.5 million to eligible Tribal Nations for preparedness initiatives against potential terrorist attacks.
- Nonprofit Security Grant Program: Provides $454.5 million for physical security enhancements for high-risk nonprofit organizations.
- Port Security Grant Program: Provides $90 million to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism.
- Transit Security Grant Program: Provides $83.7 million for public transit systems' protection against terrorism.
- Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: Provides $1.8 million for intercity bus systems' protection against terrorism; however only about $1.2 million was requested by eligible applicants.
Non-competitive grants announced earlier this year include:
- State Homeland Security Program: Provides $373.5 million based on statutory minimums and relative risk as determined by DHS/FEMA’s risk methodology.
- Urban Area Security Initiative: Provides $553.5 million based on relative risk in high-threat areas.
- Emergency Management Performance Grant: Provides $319.55 million for emergency management agencies supporting National Preparedness Goal mission areas.
- Intercity Passenger Rail: Provides $9 million specifically directed by Congress to Amtrak.
Further information on preparedness grant programs is available at DHS.gov and FEMA.gov.
