Summary:

The purpose of this program is to enable tribes to strengthen their capacities to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to potential terrorist attacks and other hazards by providing funding directly to eligible tribes. For FY 2025, this program has the following National Priority Areas (NPAs): 

• Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places: enhancing the protection of places that are increasingly appealing to terrorists because of their accessibility and large gatherings, such as parks, shopping centers, transportation hubs, and event venues; eligible activities include:
  • Physical security enhancements, such as security cameras, security screening equipment for people and baggage, lighting, and access controls
  • Fences, gates, or barriers
• Supporting homeland security task forces and fusion centers: supporting the establishment of Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) nationwide; eligible activities include:
  • Establishing or enhancing multiagency HSTFs, including operational coordination centers
  • Enhancing capabilities and integration with local fusion centers
  • Procurement of technology or equipment to support surveillance, communications, and data analysis
  • Development of standard operating procedures for information sharing, joint operations, and immigration enforcement coordination
  • Personnel training, credentialing, and certification to improve interoperability and mission alignment
  • Intelligence analysis, reporting, and suspicious activity monitoring
  • Exercises and simulations focused on joint operations, intelligence sharing, or interdiction/disruption of criminal or smuggling networks
  • Community engagement efforts to foster trust and encourage threat reporting
• Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency: ongoing or high-priority cybersecurity projects that enhance the security and functioning of critical infrastructure and core capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism
• Enhancing election security: contributing to a secure, transparent, and resilient electoral process by securing election infrastructure, ensuring its continued operation in the face of threats and harassment, advancing the safety of election officials, and protecting against foreign interference are national security priorities; eligible activities include:
  • Physical security planning support
  • Physical/site security measures, such as locks, shatter-proof glass, alarms, or access controls
  • General election security navigator support
  • Cyber navigator support
  • Cybersecurity risk assessments, training, and planning
  • Iterative backups, encrypted backups, network segmentation, software to monitor/scan, and endpoint protection
• Supporting border crisis response and enforcement: efforts that align with the policy of the United States to enforce immigration laws against all inadmissable and removable aliens, particularly those who threaten the safety or security of the American people; eligible activities may include:
  • Staffing support to expand 287(g) screening operations within correctional facilities
  • Operational overtime costs directly tied to 287(g) screening, processing, and enforcement activities
  • Training programs for law enforcement officers in immigration law, civil rights protections, and
    287(g) procedures
  • Procurement of screening, detection, and communications technology to support immigration enforcement activities

Refer to pages 15-18 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding eligible project activities. 

Projects that address one or more of the national priorities will receive additional consideration during the application evaluation process.

Award recipients are strongly encouraged to use program funding to develop or maintain a homeland security training program. 

Applications that address the following second-tier needs will help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing communities:

• Effective planning
• Training and awareness campaigns
• Equipment and capital projects
• Exercises

Funds may generally be used for costs including planning, organization, equipment, training, exercise costs, personnel activities, domestic travel, and limited maintenance and sustainment costs.

Last Updated: August 14, 2025