The Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C‑UAS) Grant Program is a new DHS/FEMA homeland‑security grant created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 to help state, local, tribal and territorial governments deal with hostile or illegal drone use. It provides $500 million over FY 2026–2027 so that State Administrative Agencies (and their local sub‑recipients such as police, fire, EMS and emergency management) can:
• Plan and organize: develop UAS risk assessments, response plans, standard operating procedures, and coordination agreements with FAA, DHS, DOJ and fusion centers; fund program management staff and overtime tied to C‑UAS operations. • Buy equipment and services: purchase detection, tracking and identification systems (radar, electro‑optical/infrared cameras, radio‑frequency and acoustic sensors, Remote ID receivers, multi‑sensor fusion software and networks) and, where legally authorized, certain mitigation tools (e.g., physical barriers like netting for all users; and for specially trained, federally supervised law‑enforcement/corrections agencies, RF takeover/jamming and non‑weaponized drone intercept systems). They can also buy mobile/portable systems, mounts, power and networking gear, calibration tools, and software‑ or data‑as‑a‑service for wide‑area drone awareness. • Train and exercise: pay for training (including attendance at the FBI National Counter‑UAS Training Center for agencies that will use mitigation tech), travel, and scenario‑based exercises to practice detecting and responding to drone threats.
These activities must all support detecting, identifying, tracking, monitoring and—only where authorized by federal law—mitigating drone threats to public safety and critical infrastructure.
The 11 eligible states for the FY 2026 C‑UAS Grant Program—and thus the states that received shares of the $250 million award—are:
• Texas • Florida • New York • New Jersey • California • Georgia • Missouri • Kansas • Massachusetts • Washington • Pennsylvania
FEMA’s public materials for this program describe minimum allocations (each state and the NCR must receive at least $3.325 million) and that the rest of the $250 million is awarded competitively based on event risk and project quality, but they do not publish a final, state‑by‑state dollar breakdown of the awards. Based on available information, the precise amount received by each state is not publicly specified.
The National Capital Region (NCR) in this program is defined as the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties in Virginia, plus any cities or units of government inside those counties. For FY 2026 the NCR is treated as one eligible applicant, represented by the District of Columbia on behalf of Maryland and Virginia.
Like each participating state, the NCR must receive at least the statutory minimum allocation of $3.325 million, with additional funding possible through the competitive portion of the $250 million. FEMA has not publicly released the exact total dollar amount ultimately awarded to the NCR.
The SAFER SKIES Act (enacted as part of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act) gives state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) law‑enforcement and correctional agencies, for the first time, carefully bounded federal authority to detect and mitigate (i.e., disable or otherwise neutralize) dangerous drones, subject to strict conditions:
• Scope of authority: After completing required federal training and certification, SLTT law‑enforcement and correctional agencies may take actions that are “necessary to mitigate a credible threat” posed by an unmanned aircraft or UAS to people, facilities, or assets at large public events, key infrastructure and correctional facilities. • Where it applies: The authority covers airspace over venues for large‑scale public gatherings or events, critical infrastructure (which typically includes airports and similar sites), and correctional facilities. • Federal control and tech limits: Technologies used must come from a federally maintained list of authorized counter‑UAS systems. DOJ and DHS must develop training/certification and issue regulations within 180 days, and FBI must train state and local officers before they can deploy these tools. • Sunset and reporting: These SLTT counter‑UAS authorities expire Dec. 31, 2031, unless extended, and DOJ/DHS must report to Congress on incidents, safety impacts, and whether broader expansion is warranted.
These new authorities are what allow state and local agencies to legally operate the higher‑end mitigation equipment that C‑UAS grant funds can pay for, but only under federal rules and oversight.
Yes, some C‑UAS‑funded equipment and operations may be used to disable or “take down” drones—but only in narrow circumstances and under federal control:
• Detection vs. mitigation: All eligible jurisdictions can buy and operate detection, tracking and identification tools. Mitigation technologies (e.g., RF takeover/jamming, drone interception, certain kinetic or non‑kinetic systems) are restricted. • Who can mitigate: Grant‑funded mitigation capabilities may only be used by law‑enforcement or correctional agencies whose personnel have been trained (or are scheduled to be trained) at the FBI National Counter‑UAS Training Center (NCUTC) and who are operating under the direction or control of a federal department or agency that has counter‑UAS authority (such as DOJ/FBI or DHS). The Department of Justice, acting through the FBI, must deputize these officers (often via Joint Terrorism Task Forces). • Legal basis: The SAFER SKIES Act and existing DHS/DOJ counter‑UAS statutes define where and when such mitigation is lawful (e.g., at major events, critical infrastructure, correctional facilities) and require forthcoming regulations and certification regimes.
In practice, this means local agencies cannot unilaterally decide to shoot down or jam drones with grant‑funded gear; any disabling of drones must be pre‑authorized, trained, and executed within a federally supervised framework.
The C‑UAS Grant Program itself does not create a new standalone privacy code, but several layers of safeguards and oversight apply to funded activities:
• Constitutional and legal constraints: FEMA explicitly requires that all funded activities comply with federal and applicable state law and be “consistent with the First and Fourth Amendments,” including limits on surveillance and searches. Projects that violate these limits are ineligible. • Federal oversight and approvals: All projects undergo FEMA eligibility, compliance and “effectiveness” reviews before funds can be spent. Equipment not used regularly for its stated public‑safety purpose, or used for unauthorized purposes, can be recalled and funds clawed back. Certain technologies (especially mitigation tools or dual‑use systems) may need pre‑approval. • DOJ/FBI control of mitigation: Use of stronger mitigation tools is tied to FBI deputization and NCUTC training; operations must follow DOJ/DHS policies and future regulations that will govern how, where and against whom such tools may be used. • Reporting and monitoring: Recipients must provide regular performance reports, including how systems are deployed and used, and they can be audited for compliance, waste, fraud or abuse. FEMA’s NOFO also incorporates the broader Preparedness Grants Manual and DHS standard terms, which include civil‑rights and privacy‑impact requirements.
However, detailed, drone‑specific privacy rules (such as data retention limits for detection feeds) are not spelled out in the publicly available FEMA C‑UAS guidance, and would depend on agency policies and any future DOJ/DHS regulations under the SAFER SKIES Act and Executive Order 14305.
FEMA’s oversight of C‑UAS grant funds combines up‑front screening with ongoing reporting and the option to claw back misused or ineffective projects:
• Competitive scoring and effectiveness review: Applications are scored on specific criteria (e.g., mitigation capabilities, detection technologies, training and readiness, support to SEAR‑1/2 events). FEMA conducts “effectiveness reviews” to ensure each project is feasible, aligned with program goals, and has measurable outcomes. Funds for a project cannot be spent until FEMA confirms effectiveness. • Required performance metrics: Recipients must track and report data such as hours systems are in active use, number of detections, distinct UAS identified, and criminal investigations initiated from C‑UAS intelligence. Investment Justifications must set clear, measurable objectives (e.g., systems deployed, personnel trained, exercises conducted) and progress is reported through periodic performance reports. • Financial and compliance monitoring: FEMA reviews grantees’ financial stability, management capacity, audit history, and adherence to federal grant rules (2 C.F.R. Part 200, Payment Integrity Information Act, etc.). Equipment that is unused or used outside authorized purposes is subject to recovery, and recipients may have to return funds. • Pass‑through and timelines: States must pass through at least 97% of funds to local/tribal sub‑recipients within 45 days, and all costs must be incurred within the grant’s period of performance, further constraining misuse.
Together, these mechanisms are how FEMA intends to judge whether C‑UAS money is being used effectively and lawfully.
According to FEMA, the C‑UAS Grant Program’s second tranche—the remaining $250 million—will be distributed in FY 2027, after the initial $250 million focused on FIFA World Cup and America 250 host jurisdictions.
• Timing and scope: FEMA states that in FY 2027 “the remaining $250 million, plus any unallocated funds from FY 2026, will be distributed to all states and territories,” with the goal of building nationwide UAS detection and response capabilities. • Who will be eligible: All 56 State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) will be able to apply—representing the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands. • Eligibility criteria and structure: As in 2026, only SAAs can apply directly, and they must pass through at least 97% of funds to local and tribal sub‑recipients. Each state/territory will receive a statutory minimum share (0.35% of total funds for states, DC and Puerto Rico; 0.08% for the four smaller territories), with additional amounts awarded competitively based on security needs and the quality/effectiveness of proposed projects. Projects must focus on planning, organization, equipment, training and exercises for detecting, identifying, tracking, monitoring and, where authorized by federal law, mitigating drone threats.
FEMA has indicated that detailed FY 2027 program rules (including exact allocation formulas and timelines) will be determined and published closer to that funding cycle.