Deadline: 11-Aug-2025
The Department of Homeland Security is inviting applications for the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), which aims to enhance the capabilities of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist attacks.
These grants are part of a broader strategy authorized by Congress and carried out by DHS to strengthen the security and resilience of U.S. communities in the face of potential terrorist threats.
In the fiscal year 2025, the HSGP includes two main components. The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) supports the implementation of state-level strategies to address risk and build necessary capabilities. The Operation Stonegarden Program (OPSG) promotes coordination among multiple law enforcement levels to secure the nation’s land and water borders.
The SHSP is designed to help state, local, tribal, and territorial governments prevent and respond to terrorism by addressing capability gaps identified through risk assessments. It focuses on areas of high-impact national security priorities. OPSG works to strengthen collaboration among Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies to improve border security.
SHSP supports governments in building core capabilities, including law enforcement terrorism prevention activities, and addressing gaps identified in threat and hazard identification and risk assessment (THIRA) and State Preparedness Report (SPR) processes. It encourages comprehensive planning, training, equipment acquisition, and community awareness campaigns.
OPSG aims to improve coordination across all levels of law enforcement to secure borders and critical travel routes, with an emphasis on intelligence and information sharing.
SHSP has several priority areas. These include improving security at soft targets and crowded places, supporting homeland security task forces and fusion centers, enhancing cybersecurity, safeguarding election systems, and assisting state and local law enforcement in collaborating with ICE under the 287(g) program.
OPSG priorities include border crisis response, enforcement training, public awareness, community resilience, operational coordination, and risk management for protection programs.
The total funding available under HSGP is $4.5 million, with $3.5 million allocated to SHSP and $1 million to OPSG. Management and Administration (M&A) costs are capped at 5% of the total award, allowing a maximum of $225,000, of which $175,000 can go to SHSP and $50,000 to OPSG.
Only the State Administrative Agency (SAA) in each state or territory can submit applications to DHS/FEMA. SAAs are responsible for managing and distributing the funds within their jurisdictions. They issue subawards to local governments and other eligible organizations.
The definition of “state” includes all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
SAAs distribute funding to local and tribal organizations, known as subrecipients, to support regional security efforts. Subrecipients must ensure that any foreign nationals involved are fully vetted and comply with government rules and security policies.
Tribal governments are not eligible to apply directly but can receive funds through their respective state’s SAA.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
