June 2026 Funding Trends Report

June grant activity accelerated across public safety, homeland security, fire and emergency services, law enforcement, housing, transportation, and rural infrastructure. The month was defined less by a single dominant federal opportunity and more by overlapping deadlines, state pass-through activity, and a growing need for applicants to maintain ready-to-submit projects. Several major programs remained open into July and August, making June an important month for confirming eligibility, securing cost-share commitments, updating budgets, and collecting operational data before application windows became compressed.

The most important trend moving into July is the continued shift toward project readiness and compliance. Agencies are increasingly expected to demonstrate a direct safety benefit, documented operational need, measurable outcomes, procurement readiness, and the ability to manage federal funds under more rigorous oversight. Public safety applicants should keep current quotes, governing-body approvals, staffing data, mutual-aid information, equipment inventories, and sustainability plans available before a notice opens.

June 2026 Executive Trend Summary

• Homeland security funding moved to the forefront as states prepared for State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), Operation Stonegarden (OPSG), and Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) activity. Local agencies should expect state-specific subapplication deadlines that may be substantially earlier than federal deadlines.

• COPS Office solicitations created a concentrated summer workload for law enforcement agencies, with opportunities addressing officer hiring, school safety, anti-methamphetamine enforcement, officer wellness, and active-shooter preparedness.

• Fire service funding remained active through AFG, SAFER, and FP&S, while congressional action on FY2027 appropriations signaled proposed increases for FEMA fire grants and the U.S. Fire Administration.

• Smaller state and regional programs continued to provide practical funding for equipment, training, traffic safety, nonprofit security, emergency communications, rural response, and localized crime-reduction initiatives. These programs often have shorter application periods and may be more attainable than national competitions.

• OMB’s proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance point toward stronger pre-award risk review, subrecipient oversight, performance monitoring, and federal authority to suspend or terminate awards that no longer align with federal priorities. If finalized, these changes are likely to shape 2027 grant administration and should be incorporated into current compliance planning.

OMB Revisions to Uniform Guidance: Preparing for 2027
OMB’s proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance would represent a meaningful change in how federal financial assistance is awarded, monitored, and managed. Although the rule is not yet final, the proposal signals that federal agencies may place greater emphasis on organizational risk, internal controls, performance, subrecipient accountability, and continued alignment with federal priorities. Public comments are scheduled to remain open through July 13, 2026.

• Expanded pre-award risk assessments, including closer review of prior performance, audit findings, financial stability, management systems, and the applicant’s capacity to administer federal funds.

• Stronger subrecipient monitoring expectations, requiring prime recipients to document risk assessments, monitoring methods, corrective actions, and follow-up more consistently.

• Greater focus on measurable performance and award outcomes, with applicants expected to connect expenditures to specific deliverables and public benefits rather than relying on broad need statements.

• Broader federal authority to suspend, terminate, or modify awards when a project no longer aligns with federal priorities or when compliance and performance concerns are not corrected.

• Increased importance of written policies for procurement, conflicts of interest, records retention, equipment management, financial controls, and grant closeout.

Recommended action for 2026: organizations should review their grant policies now, document approval and procurement workflows, confirm that subrecipient agreements contain monitoring provisions, and maintain a centralized file for performance measures, invoices, contracts, match documentation, and governing-body approvals. Preparing during 2026 will reduce disruption if the revisions take effect for awards issued in 2027.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
HSGP remains one of the most important preparedness funding streams for states, territories, urban areas, and local partners. The program supports terrorism prevention, emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, intelligence and information sharing, emergency communications, critical infrastructure protection, planning, training, exercises, and equipment. Local governments generally access these funds through their state administrative agency rather than applying directly to FEMA.

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP): supports statewide and regional preparedness priorities, including interoperable communications, cybersecurity, fusion-center support, critical infrastructure protection, planning, training, exercises, and deployable response capabilities.

• Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI): supports high-threat, high-density urban areas and their regional partners. Projects should be tied to regional risk, capability gaps, and approved urban-area strategies.

• Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): supports enhanced cooperation and coordinated operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies in jurisdictions near land or maritime borders.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
NSGP supports physical security and preparedness improvements for nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack. Houses of worship, schools, community centers, healthcare organizations, cultural institutions, and other eligible nonprofits may seek support for target hardening, security equipment, planning, training, exercises, and contracted security personnel where allowed.

• Applicants generally submit through their state administrative agency, not directly to FEMA.

• Competitive applications require a current vulnerability assessment, a site-specific investment justification, clear linkage between identified threats and proposed improvements, and realistic cost estimates.

• Common project examples include access control, surveillance, alarms, lighting, secure doors and windows, communications, emergency notification, security planning, staff training, and exercises.

FY2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Markup
On June 10, 2026, the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the FY2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The committee bill included proposed increases for federal fire-service programs. These figures are part of the congressional appropriations process and are not final until enacted.

• $702 million for FEMA fire grant programs, a proposed 2.63% increase from FY2026 levels.

• $351 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

• $351 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program.

• $77.27 million for the U.S. Fire Administration, a proposed 7.11% increase from FY2026 levels.

Trend implication: the House proposal demonstrates continued congressional support for firefighter equipment, training, staffing, data, research, and national fire-service capacity.

Grants Moved to Announced: May vs June

COPS Office Grant Activity
The summer COPS Office cycle created several distinct opportunities. Agencies should avoid using one generic narrative across programs; each application should be built around the program’s specific purpose, statutory requirements, performance measures, and allowable costs.

Smaller State and Regional Grant Programs
June and July also brought a steady flow of smaller state, regional, and pass-through opportunities. These programs often provide awards in the $5,000 to $250,000 range, have narrower eligibility, and move faster than major federal competitions.

New and Continuing Opportunities Moving Through June and July

Useful Grant Education

• Gov1: DOJ Model Cities Initiative Webinar: Funding Strategies for Safer Communities

• FireRescue1: How to build a connected community health program that delivers better outcomes (eBook)

• Police1: Transparency is fundamental to the success of Drone as First Responder

• NLC: Press Room - National League of Cities