Skip to content
July 09, 2026

Homeland Security Democrats Slam Trump Administration for Mismanaging and Politicizing FEMA Grants

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, led committee Democrats in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acting head Robert Fenton demanding that the Trump administration immediately withdraw its potentially unlawful Fiscal Year 2026 preparedness grant guidance, release hundreds of millions of dollars in withheld counterterrorism grant funding, and stop holding critical homeland security resources hostage to the President's political agenda.

In their letter, the Members warn that the Trump administration is jeopardizing public safety by withholding nearly $200 million in FY 2026 preparedness funding, delaying the release of more than $600 million from FY 2025 funding, and conditioning security grants on unrelated political demands. The new guidance forces local police, fire departments, and nonprofits to comply with confusing and, in some cases, unlawful requirements unrelated to public safety.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11th, it is deeply alarming that DHS and FEMA, under Donald Trump, continue to manipulate the very funding born out of a national tragedy,” the Members wrote. “Playing political games with counterterrorism funding undermines public safety and deprives first responders of the resources they need to do their jobs.”

Major issues with the grants highlighted in the letter include:

  • Holding nearly $200 million in counterterrorism funding hostage unless States adopt election requirements that conflict with court rulings and State law.
  • Incomplete and missing grant guidance that leaves applicants unable to submit compliant applications.
  • Burdensome, politically motivated requirements unrelated to preventing terrorism.
  • Year-long delays in security funding to nonprofits that leave at-risk organizations unprotected.
  • Continued holds on more than $600 million in FY 2025 preparedness funding intended for States, local governments, and first responders.

The Members demanded DHS immediately withdraw the unlawful FY 2026 grant guidance and restore the FY 2024 guidance, release all withheld funding that Congress has appropriated, issue all outstanding Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards, and provide justification for the new political conditions imposed on critical security grants.

To read the full letter, click here.