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.

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 programs. The September 30 end of the fiscal year is fast approaching. DHS cannot allow a delay in the application periods for the FY 2025 SHSGP and UASI grants.