Maryland’s fiscal 2026 homeland security and emergency management grants are moving forward, but questions remain over the federal terms and conditions attached to the funding.

FEMA has released the fiscal 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant and Homeland Security Grant Program award packages. MDEM must accept the EMPG award by November 9, and the HSGP award by November 24, and the Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the terms and conditions for both programs.

EMPG helps fund the day-to-day capacity of state and local emergency management agencies, including planning, training, exercises, staffing, and other preparedness work across prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery. HSGP supports terrorism preparedness and related homeland security capabilities, including planning, equipment, training, exercises, and coordination across state and local governments.

The update comes as federal election-related requirements remain unsettled. A federal judge ruled September 28 that the Trump administration could not withhold federal counterterrorism funding from states that do not comply with its election administration requirements. Still, MDEM has not yet received FEMA guidance on how the ruling affects the grants.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, four local governments sued the US Department of Homeland Security in August over election conditions attached to federal homeland security grants.

The fiscal 2025 HSGP remains separate. MDEM has notified local governments of approved projects, but Election Security and Supporting Border Crisis Response and Enforcement projects remain on hold.

That follows MDEM’s September guidance lifting broader federal holds on fiscal 2025 National Priority Area and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities funding. As previously reported on Conduit Street, counties still need written authorization from MDEM before assuming every project can move forward with reimbursement.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.