The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) has released new guidance detailing ongoing FEMA funding holds affecting portions of fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 Homeland Security Grant Program awards.
The grants help counties and other jurisdictions fund emergency preparedness, planning, training, equipment, and other homeland security capabilities.
For fiscal 2025, FEMA continues to hold projects funded through the National Priority Areas (NPA) and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) allocations. MDEM advises recipients not to obligate, expend, or seek reimbursement for those projects until FEMA lifts the holds and MDEM provides written authorization.
For fiscal 2026, FEMA is withholding 20% of Maryland’s Homeland Security Grant Program award pending the demonstration of compliance with new election security and border security requirements. MDEM is working with the Maryland State Board of Elections, the Office of the Attorney General, FEMA, and other State partners to evaluate those requirements and determine how Maryland will proceed.
Until the hold is resolved, MDEM will issue initial allocations equal to 80% of anticipated funding. Counties must submit fiscal 2026 investment justifications based on those initial allocations by August 3.
The guidance also implements new federal certification requirements for recipients of the Homeland Security Grant Program. Counties receiving fiscal 2025 funding must complete a foreign national vetting certification by November 16, even if no foreign nationals are charged to the award.
The guidance comes as counties continue navigating uncertainty surrounding federal emergency management policy and funding. In recent months, MACo has covered FEMA disaster declaration denials, the FEMA Review Council’s recommendations to shift more responsibility to states and local governments, changes to federal preparedness funding, and congressional efforts to reshape the agency’s future.
MDEM indicates that additional guidance may follow as FEMA continues to review grant conditions and release funding holds.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
