FEMA awarded $250 million in counter-drone grants to FIFA host states and D.C. area

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FEMA awarded $250 million in grants for counter-drone capabilities to the 11 FIFA host states and the National Capital Region.

Source summary
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems to accelerate procurement and deployment of drone and counter-drone technologies. DHS says the office will finalize a $115 million investment this week to help secure America250 celebrations and 2026 FIFA World Cup venues, and has requested proposals for a separate $1.5 billion contract vehicle. The announcement also notes expanded DHS authorities for counter-drone operations and cites more than 1,500 missions conducted since 2018.
Latest fact check

FEMA’s official Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program page shows that for Fiscal Year 2026 the total funding available is $250 million, with awards announced on December 30, 2025, and a detailed allocation table that sums to $250 million across named jurisdictions. That table lists 11 U.S. states—California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington—plus the District of Columbia (on behalf of the National Capital Region) as recipients. FEMA’s C-UAS Grant Program FAQ further states that DHS/FEMA will prioritize “$250 million in funding for the 11 states that are directly or indirectly hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 events and the NCR,” confirming both the amount and the connection to those host states and the National Capital Region. Independent coverage of FEMA’s announcement by specialized outlets on drones and government IT similarly reports that $250 million in Counter-UAS/counter‑drone grants were awarded to the 11 World Cup host states and Washington, D.C. (the NCR). Therefore, the statement is true because FEMA has in fact awarded $250 million in counter‑drone (counter‑UAS) grants to the 11 FIFA World Cup 2026 host states and the National Capital Region, as documented in FEMA’s own grant program materials and corroborating reports.

Timeline

  1. Update · Jan 12, 2026, 10:59 PMTrue
    FEMA’s official Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program page shows that for Fiscal Year 2026 the total funding available is $250 million, with awards announced on December 30, 2025, and a detailed allocation table that sums to $250 million across named jurisdictions. That table lists 11 U.S. states—California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington—plus the District of Columbia (on behalf of the National Capital Region) as recipients. FEMA’s C-UAS Grant Program FAQ further states that DHS/FEMA will prioritize “$250 million in funding for the 11 states that are directly or indirectly hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 events and the NCR,” confirming both the amount and the connection to those host states and the National Capital Region. Independent coverage of FEMA’s announcement by specialized outlets on drones and government IT similarly reports that $250 million in Counter-UAS/counter‑drone grants were awarded to the 11 World Cup host states and Washington, D.C. (the NCR). Therefore, the statement is true because FEMA has in fact awarded $250 million in counter‑drone (counter‑UAS) grants to the 11 FIFA World Cup 2026 host states and the National Capital Region, as documented in FEMA’s own grant program materials and corroborating reports.
  2. Original article · Jan 12, 2026

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