The Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through FEMA, is a federally funded initiative authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. With a total funding allocation of $500 million across fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the program seeks to strengthen state and local capabilities to detect, track, identify, and, where legally permitted, mitigate threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This response is driven by rising concerns about the unlawful or malicious use of drones that may jeopardize public safety, critical infrastructure, and national events. The program emphasizes alignment with federal law, Executive Order 14305, and security priorities related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and America 250 celebrations.
The grant is structured in two phases. Fiscal Year 2026 limits eligibility to 11 states and the National Capital Region (NCR) hosting FIFA or America 250 events designated as Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 1 or 2. These jurisdictions will receive baseline statutory allocations with additional funding distributed competitively based on project effectiveness and SEAR risk. In Fiscal Year 2027, eligibility expands to all 56 U.S. states and territories, with funding focused on developing a national capacity for UAS detection and response. The SAA of each state or territory is the sole eligible applicant, but local, tribal, and territorial government entities can be included as subrecipients.
Allowable uses of funds span planning, organization, equipment acquisition, training, and exercises, with restrictions on certain types of expenditures including general-use software, maintenance not tied to program activities, and any initiatives duplicative of federal capabilities. Technologies funded must align with legal standards, and mitigation technologies are reserved for law enforcement or correctional agencies with personnel trained at the FBI’s National C-UAS Training Center (NCUTC). Additionally, recipients must certify equipment is actively deployed and used for its intended purpose.
Applicants must submit through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system and complete several federal registrations, including obtaining a UEI and maintaining an active SAM.gov profile. Required application components include federal forms (e.g., SF-424, SF-LLL), a detailed Investment Justification (IJ), and budget documentation. Successful applicants must submit a draft Implementation Plan within 60 days of award acceptance and a final plan within 30 days after receiving FEMA feedback.
The application window opens on October 28, 2025, and closes on December 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Funding selections are anticipated by January 30, 2026, with awards issued no later than February 27, 2026. The performance period begins July 4, 2025, and runs through September 30, 2028. Though there is no cost-sharing requirement, strict pass-through rules apply, requiring SAAs to allocate at least 97% of awarded funds to eligible subrecipients unless specific state-level justifications are approved. The program is expected to recur annually, with the next cycle anticipated in Fall 2026.
Align with SEAR risk level, use POETE framework, and confirm FBI training for mitigation eligibility.
