The grant programs target six “critical areas,” including cybersecurity, information sharing and election security.
The Department of Homeland Security announced final funding allocations for state and local governments to bolster their preparedness, including against cyberattacks.
A total of $550 million will go to seven competitive preparedness programs in Fiscal Year 2022. In a statement, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said cybersecurity is one of “six critical areas” prioritized by the grants, alongside protecting soft targets and crowded places, intelligence and information sharing, combating domestic violent extremism, community preparedness and resilience as well as election security.
Included in the funding is $93 million for the Transit Security Grant Program, which provides funds for public transportation agencies to protect themselves from acts of terrorism. In the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program, DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the need to enhance cybersecurity is a major area of concern.
Route Fifty
By Chris Teale
AUGUST 19, 2022