Fiscal Year 2025 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)

The Fiscal Year 2025 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is a competitive federal grant designed to enhance the security and resilience of public transportation systems across the United States. The TSGP provides financial assistance to eligible public transit agencies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and other emerging threats. This initiative is rooted in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 and reflects the evolving priorities of national security policy, including cybersecurity, border enforcement, and safeguarding soft targets and crowded places. The TSGP is part of a larger portfolio of DHS transportation infrastructure security programs and is aligned with FEMA's Preparedness Grant Programs. In FY 2025, the TSGP has an expected total funding amount of $83.7 million, with award amounts ranging from $348,373 to $33,898,500 across approximately 25 awards. The program prioritizes investments that support the National Preparedness Goal and five designated National Priority Areas (NPAs): enhancing protection of soft targets and crowded places, supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers, enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency, enhancing election security, and supporting border crisis response and enforcement. Eligible applicants include specific passenger rail, intra-city bus, and ferry systems identified in Appendix A of the NOFO. To qualify, transit agencies must have an approved security plan based on a security assessment conducted within the past three years, such as the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE). They must also participate in or establish a Regional Transit Security Working Group (RTSWG). Subawards are not allowed under this program, and all applications must originate from the named eligible entities. The application window opens August 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET and closes August 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. Applications must be submitted via the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system, which requires a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), an active SAM registration, and setup within FEMA GO. Applications must include Investment Justifications (IJs), detailed budgets, and, if applying for Operational Packages (OPacks), a Five-Year Security Capital and Operational Sustainment Plan. Operational Packages can include Explosives Detection Canine Teams (EDCTs), Anti-Terrorism Teams (ATTs), or Mobile Explosive Screening Teams (MESTs), with specific funding caps and personnel requirements. Evaluation is conducted through a multi-step process, including eligibility screening, project merit review, and financial review, with final selections made by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Projects are expected to be both feasible and effective in reducing risk. Awards will be announced by September 30, 2025, and recipients will have 36 to 48 months to complete their projects, depending on the type of project. Indirect costs and management and administration (M&A) costs are allowable under the program, subject to specific requirements. Program contacts include region-specific Preparedness Officers, the FEMA Grants News Team at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 368-6498, and support channels for FEMA GO, the Preparedness Toolkit, and technical matters related to grant administration. Additional inquiries regarding environmental and civil rights compliance may be directed to specialized FEMA offices as outlined in the NOFO.

Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with the National Priority Areas and to base requests on recent vulnerability assessments. All materials must be labeled as Sensitive Security Information (SSI) until DHS/FEMA review.