Homeland Security Grant Program: How to find and apply for funding

What is the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)?

The Homeland Security Grant Program is a federal funding opportunity available to state, local, tribal and territorial governments. The HSPG aims to provide eligible recipients with the resources to defend against acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.

The Homeland Security Program is a core component of the federal government’s National Preparedness Goal (NPG), a strategic objective established in 2011 that aims to help communities improve resilience to threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks and natural disasters.

The HSGP sets out to achieve this objective by awarding grants through three main streams:

• Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): Provides funding for law enforcement agencies in U.S. border states to enhance border security and improve inter-agency coordination.
• The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI): Provides funding for government agencies in high-risk and high-density urban areas to address region-specific threats.
• The State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP): Provides funding for government agencies in all 56 states and U.S. territories to support homeland security strategies.

Homeland Security Grant Program eligibility

Homeland Security Grant Program funding is available to all government agencies through one or more of the program’s three main streams, provided the agency meets homeland security program eligibility requirements laid out for the relevant stream(s) in that fiscal year.

For instance, applicants could secure funding from both the SHSP and UASI programs if they can show that their physical security system enhancements contribute to both general homeland security strategies and threat prevention in a high-risk urban environment.

While all government agencies can meet homeland security program eligibility requirements, only a State Administrative Agency (SAA) can submit a funding application directly to FEMA.

SAAs are permitted to submit a Homeland Security Program application once per year, and then make funding available to subapplicants, such as state, local and tribal governments, post-award.

Subapplicants may apply for State Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative or Operation Stonegarden funding through sub-awards issued by their state’s SAA.

Homeland Security Grant Program 2025 priorities

While the overarching objective of the Homeland Security Grant Program remains the same each year — to meet the NPG by helping communities protect against catastrophic events — the program specifies annual National Priority Areas to help ensure funds are utilized effectively.

Recipients of State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative grants are required to allocate at least 30% of their awards to projects that address National Priority Areas as defined for that fiscal year. Recipients of Operation Stonegarden grants face no such restrictions due to the funding stream’s specific focus on improving border security.

The National Priority Areas for the Homeland Security Grant Program 2025 are:

• Protecting soft targets and crowded spaces: For example, enhancing security measures to help protect high-risk sites such as religious centers and election sites from targeted attacks.
• Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and Fusion Centers: For example, projects aimed at improving efforts to collect and share critical homeland security intelligence.
• Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency: For example, strengthening existing and building new cybersecurity infrastructure to defend against novel cyberattacks.
• Enhancing election security: For example, implementing measures to ensure the integrity of elections — SHSP and UASI recipients must direct at least 3% of funds to this priority.
• Border crisis response and enforcement: For example, procuring resources to secure borders — at least 10% of SHSP and UASI awards must be allocated to this priority.

What can Homeland Security Grant Program funds be used for?

As with all federal funding opportunities, Homeland Security Program grants are intended to address specific needs, meaning strict rules govern how awards can and cannot be used.

Allowable costs for the Homeland Security Grant Program 2025 include:

• Planning and assessments: Planning activities that contribute to the achievement of a measurable objective, e.g., risk assessments and threat identification operations.
• Project organization: Expenses related to the building and sustaining of structures and teams required to accomplish the objectives outlined in a successful application.
• Authorized equipment: Security, medical and protective equipment present on the FEMA Authorized Equipment List that are required to achieve the project’s main objectives.
• Training and exercises: Expenses related to the performance and attendance of emergency preparedness, threat response and terrorism prevention training courses.
• Overtime funding: Funds to cover overtime pay for personnel involved in named, federally-requested homeland security activities such as anti-terrorism task forces.

Restricted costs for the Homeland Security Grant Program 2025 include:

• Weapons and accessories: In accordance with FEMA policy, HSGP funds are not permitted to be used for weapons or accessories, such as ammunition.
• Wear and tear reimbursements: HSGP funds may not be used to reimburse the maintenance or wear-and-tear costs of general-use vehicles, supplies and apparatus.
• Equipment for permanent installations: HSGP funds cannot be used to purchase equipment for permanent installation beyond the scope of pre-approved projects.
• Sworn public safety officers: HSGP awards may not be used to fund the hiring of sworn public safety officers for purposes of fulfilling traditional public safety duties.
• Management and administration: Recipients of State Homeland Security Program grants can use no more than 5% of their awards for management and administration.
• Construction and renovations: Some construction costs are allowable; however, projects are typically capped at 15% of the award and require written approval from FEMA.

Homeland Security Program awards and deadlines

The total funding level for the Homeland Security Grant Program 2025 is $1.008 billion, with a risk-based methodology used to divide funds appropriately across the three main streams.

FY 2025

• Total: $1.008 billion
• State Homeland Security Program: $373.5 million
• Urban Security Area Initiative: $553.5 million
• Operation Stonegarden: $81 million

FY 2024

• Total: $1.008 billion
• State Homeland Security Program: $373.5 million
• Urban Security Area Initiative: $553.5 million
• Operation Stonegarden: $81 million

FY 2023

• Total: $1.12 billion
• State Homeland Security Program: $415 million
• Urban Security Area Initiative: $615 million
• Operation Stonegarden: $90 million

Deadlines for the Homeland Security Grant Program

The deadline for SAAs to apply to FEMA for Homeland Security Program grants passed on August 11^th, 2025; deadlines for subapplicants to request funding via their SAA vary by state.

Deadlines for subapplicant State Homeland Security Program funding typically range from September to March of the fiscal year, with most state deadlines falling before October 31^st.

Subapplicants are advised to visit their state’s homeland security agency website or contact their SAA for more information; SAA contact information by state is provided on FEMA​.gov.

How to apply for Homeland Security Program grants

Eligible recipients of Homeland Security Program grants may only apply for funding through their local SAA. A brief overview of a typical HSGP application process is included below.

1. Contact your State Administrative Agency

SAAs are the only entities eligible to apply and submit applications for Homeland Security Grant Program funding. Eligible sub-award recipients must contact their local SAA to request HSGP funding; current contact details for SAAs by state can be found on the FEMA website.

2. Identify an appropriate HSGP funding opportunity

HSGP funding supplied to SAAs is awarded to subapplicants through case-specific grants. Subapplicants can find appropriate State Homeland Security Program grant opportunities by searching for programs funded by the Department of Homeland Security on Grants​.gov.

3. Register your organization on SAM​.gov

Subapplicants must be registered in the government’s System for Award Management (SAM) and in possession of a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number to receive Homeland Security Program funding. To register your organization, simply follow the instructions on SAM​.gov.

4. Prepare your Homeland Security Program grant application

A successful grant application will speak to the HSGP’s National Priority Areas for that fiscal year, as well as the criteria laid out in the case-specific grant’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Review this information carefully while you prepare and write your grant application.

5. Submit your application

Eligible subapplicants for Homeland Security Program funding must submit subapplication materials to their SAA before the state-specific deadline. Final submissions for case-specific State Homeland Security Program grants will be sent through the FEMA Grants GO system.

Best practices: writing a successful SHSP grant application

Federal funding opportunities are highly competitive, so it’s important to approach the grant writing process with careful consideration. 

Below are some key points to consider:

• Review the NOFO: NOFOs contain important information, such as deadlines, formatting rules and submission requirements, needed to support a successful grant application.
• Provide evidence: Subapplicants must provide evidence of the issues they intend to address and how SHSGP funding will be used to improve public safety.
• Build a narrative: Proposals built around a structured narrative help grant reviewers to understand the need, purpose and benefits of projects that require federal funding.
• State clear goals: Clear, measurable goals, timelines and budgets demonstrate that necessary planning has taken place and projects will be administered professionally.
• Submit early: Submitting with time to spare helps subapplicants mitigate registration delays and technical issues as well as seek second opinions before final submission.