Federal Security Grant Cuts Pose Major Risks to Emergency Management

Mon Oct 20 2025 16:14:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

State crisis managers warn that significant cuts to federal security grants and delays in funding are hampering emergency preparedness efforts, jeopardizing the ability to respond effectively to disasters.

State emergency managers express growing concern over severe cuts to federal security grants, delays caused by litigation, and new funding restrictions. These challenges arise amid a federal government shutdown and ongoing uncertainty in grant allocations, undermining the ability to prepare for emergencies like climate disasters and cyber threats. Experts stress the need for reliable funding and stress that any interruptions could endanger American lives.

State crisis managers say severe cuts to federal security grants, restrictions on money intended for preparedness, and funding delays tied to litigation pose a growing risk to their ability to respond to emergencies.

The uncertainty has complicated state-led emergency efforts, especially amidst a federal government shutdown. Kiele Amundson, communications director at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, stated, Every day we remain in this grant purgatory reduces the time available to responsibly and effectively spend these critical funds.

As a result, agencies are delaying hiring for vacant positions and making rushed decisions on vital training and equipment purchases. Experts point out how the disruptions contradict the Republican administration's commitment to shifting disaster response responsibilities to state and local governments.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insists these new measures are necessary due to recent population shifts and new threats facing the nation.

Challenges from Immigration Raids and Grant Restrictions

DHS and FEMA grants are essential for states, tribes, and territories to better prepare for climate disasters and deter a range of threats. The funds are used for salaries, training, vehicles, and communications equipment. Emergency managers have indicated that as threats evolve, including pandemics and cyberattacks, the importance of this funding increases.

On Sept. 29, FEMA divided a $320 million Emergency Management Performance Grant among states, only to inform them the following day that the funds were on hold pending new population counts. States were instructed to exclude individuals removed per U.S. immigration laws from their counts, leading to confusion and frustration among emergency management agencies.

Trina Sheets, executive director of the National Emergency Management Association, highlighted that such a requirement is unprecedented and not in the purview of emergency management agencies. States are struggling to meet these demands with their respective census data, desperate for clarity amid the ongoing federal shutdown.

FEMA's decision to limit grant spending timeframes and the new methodology requirements complicate local agencies’ financial planning considerably.

Litigation Complicating Grant Allocation

FEMA has also recently reduced allocations from other funding sources amid a political backlash, resulting in significant cuts for states like New York and Illinois while others, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, received unexpected increases. The National Emergency Management Association criticized the unclear distribution methodology.

Due to a federal judicial order, a freeze on funding has been implemented, further complicating state responses and potentially jeopardizing public safety. As stated by Frank Pace, administrator of the Hawaii Office of Homeland Security, the ongoing situations risk delays in critical projects and contractor payments.

Emergency management officials have reported strategies to mitigate their reliance on federal funding amid these challenges, stressing the need for stability in funding streams for effective disaster preparedness and response.