FEMA opens a second $250 million counter-drone grant round to every state, territory and DC

TLDR

• FEMA announced $250 million in new counter-drone grant funding for states and territories on 16 October.¹²
• Applications close on 16 November 2026, and only State Administrative Agencies may apply.¹²
• The first round went only to World Cup host states and the National Capital Region.¹²

Commercial UAV News reports that FEMA's Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Grant Program is offering $250 million in a second round of funding, announced on 16 October.¹ Unmanned Airspace describes it as a nationwide expansion of the earlier programme and says the opportunity is posted on Grants.gov.² Both outlets say the grant is noncompetitive, with money going to all 50 states, five territories and Washington, D.C., and that only State Administrative Agencies are eligible.¹² Applications opened on 16 October and close on 16 November, and Commercial UAV News says they go through FEMA GO.¹²

Commercial UAV News says Congress created the programme through the Working Families Tax Cut Act, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025, which directs DHS to provide $500 million across two fiscal years to strengthen state and local ability to counter unlawful drone use.¹ The first round also totalled $250 million and went only to states hosting FIFA World Cup matches and to the National Capital Region, which hosted events linked to the nation's 250th anniversary.¹² Unmanned Airspace gives no per-state breakdown.²

Commercial UAV News quotes FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton as saying "Unlawful drones are not a future threat," and that the grants let states and territories "build the capabilities they need to detect, identify, track and monitor drone threats before they can cause harm."¹

Why it matters: the second round extends federal counter-drone funding from World Cup and anniversary host areas to every state and territory, but the money goes to state agencies rather than directly to local responders, and neither source gives per-state amounts or says what equipment recipients will buy, so the practical effect will depend on how states allocate it after the 16 November close.