Press Releases

Kennedy’s DHS Grants Accountability Act Would Ensure Funding Decisions Are Data-Driven

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the DHS Grants Accountability Act, legislation that would guarantee greater transparency, consistency, and data-driven decision-making within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) homeland security preparedness grants programs. The bill directly addresses long-standing concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office and stakeholders about unpredictable timelines, opaque risk methodologies, and abrupt funding shifts that compromise local preparedness. By codifying clear award timelines and transparent methods, the DHS Grants Accountability Act strengthens the integrity of one of the federal government’s most critical homeland security programs nationwide.

“I am proud to lead legislation that makes commonsense, necessary reforms to restore fairness and predictability to FEMA’s suite of preparedness grant programs,” said Congressman Kennedy. “When local needs are placed at the forefront of these funding decisions, communities can focus on what matters most: keeping people safe. Western New York families and first responders deserve a system of federal support that is transparent, reliable, and rooted in real risk.”

“For decades, the federal government has distributed billions in homeland security grants to our communities to prevent terror attacks and respond to disasters,” said Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson. “This legislation will clarify Congressional intent and ensure that FEMA awards grants based on need and in a timely and reliable manner. The DHS Grants Accountability Act helps keep our preparedness grants consistent and transparent, giving States and local partners the stability they need to keep our communities safe. I thank Congressman Kennedy for introducing this much-needed legislation and I look forward to working with him on passage.”

FEMA’s preparedness grants portfolio includes the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the Port Security Grant Program, and numerous public transportation security grant programs. These investments help state, local, nonprofit, and tribal partners prevent, protect against, and respond to evolving threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, and natural disasters.

This year, cities and states were given just two weeks to develop and submit complex grant applications for this funding - far short of the typical 60-day window and insufficient for coordinating local priorities. FEMA also altered its funding parameters without advance notice, cutting millions for New York State compared to FY24. Sudden shifts like these jeopardize public safety planning, hamper long-term investments, and leave high-risk areas, like Western New York’s border crossings, transit systems, and major population centers, without the support they rely on.

The DHS Grants Accountability Act addresses these problems by:

• Ensuring transparent and data-driven funding decisions. The bill requires FEMA to base grant allocations on the threat and risk factors already defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It also mandates that FEMA provide Congress with its full funding methodology at least 30 days before releasing any funding opportunity notices.
• Providing jurisdictions with sufficient and predictable application timelines. The legislation guarantees applicants at least 30 days to prepare and submit grant applications and requires FEMA to publish funding notices within 60 days of congressional appropriations. 
• Preventing unnecessary red tape. By establishing a minimum 54-month period of performance, the bill gives grantees the time needed to conduct proper procurement, hire and train personnel, and complete long-term projects. This reduces administrative burdens and protects taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and rushed spending.
• Requiring FEMA to award grants annually. The bill amends current law to require FEMA to distribute preparedness grants every year rather than leaving the timing discretionary. This ensures states and local communities receive predictable, sustained support to maintain and strengthen their preparedness efforts.
  
  Together, these reforms ensure that preparedness grants are awarded fairly, predictably, and based on real risk. For Western New York, where border security, cross-border commerce, severe weather events, and dense urban areas intersect, the bill ensures that lifesaving resources will not be delayed, reduced, or interrupted without justification. 
  
  For additional information on this legislation, click here.