Congress is moving to revive a key federal cybersecurity grant program that counties rely on to protect critical systems and infrastructure. With cyber threats rising and local resources stretched thin, long-term reauthorization is essential for keeping communities safe.
As covered in an article from Cybersecurity Dive, a bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to restore a key federal cybersecurity grant program that many state and local governments rely on to protect essential systems and infrastructure. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced legislation to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which expired on October 1 and is currently operating under a short-term extension through January 30.
The grant program has become an essential resource for states, counties, and municipalities working to strengthen their cyber defenses, particularly smaller jurisdictions that lack the staffing and funding to build robust security programs on their own. Local governments are responsible for safeguarding critical functions like water systems, public safety, emergency communications, and sensitive resident data, all while facing increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyberattacks.
State and local governments “are under constant cyber and physical attack from a wide range of adversaries, including nation-state actors, cybercriminals, and hacktivists,” the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), a collaboration group for state and local officials, said in a February report. “These threats are increasingly sophisticated, multidimensional, and capable of disrupting essential services such as healthcare, education, water, and emergency response.”
Recent federal shifts have intensified the need for continued investment. CISA recently ended direct funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), prompting new membership fees that many resource-strained jurisdictions struggle to cover. At the same time, state and local systems remain prime targets for cybercriminals, a trend underscored by high-profile attacks in local governments nationwide.
The House passed its own reauthorization bill in November, and both measures now await action in the Senate Homeland Security Committee. With broad bipartisan support and strong advocacy from state and local officials, counties are watching closely for Congress to finalize a long-term renewal that stabilizes cybersecurity funding and supports local governments on the front lines of protecting public infrastructure.
