In an effort to move disaster relief from Washington, D.C. to the states, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would return nearly $3.5 billion to local communities.
Noem said FEMA is shifting from D.C.-centric bureaucracy to a deployable disaster force empowered at the state level to provide relief for citizens. The funding, administered through FEMA’s non-disaster grant programs, would empower communities to hire and train firefighter and other first responders, as well as plan for potential cyber disruptions, protect infrastructure like ports and transportation systems, enhance the security of churches and other nonprofits, implement public warning systems, protect themselves against terrorist attacks and transnational crime, and other potential disasters.
“Secretary Noem is empowering state and local leaders over Washington bureaucrats,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “The Trump administration is draining the swamp, restoring accountability for FEMA, and putting Americans FIRST in disaster response.”
Noem’s office said the grant awards come after an evaluation of all grant programs and recipients designed to cut waste, fraud and abuse. DHS and FEMA worked together to vet grant recipients and ensure awards strengthen national resilience.
FEMA awarded the following Preparedness Grants:
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (including AFG, FP&S, SAFER)
- Emergency Management Grant Program
- Intercity Bus Security Grant Program
- Intercity Passenger Rail Program
- Nonprofit Security Grant Program
- Homeland Security Grant Program (including UASI, OPSG, SHSP)
- Port Security Grant Program
- Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program
- State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
- Transit Security Grant Program
- Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program
- Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program
FEMA also awarded the following additional non-disaster grant programs:
- Community Assistance Program–State Support Services Element
- Detention Support Grant Program
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program
- Homeland Security National Training Program (ASSURE, CTG, NCPC NDPC)
- National Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Response System
- National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (Individual and Multistate)
- National Dam Safety Program
- Next Generation Warning System
- Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program