Federal grant programs frozen, FDs unable to access funding

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WASHINGTON — A FEMA official reportedly halted funding last week for a variety of grant programs, including those that direct funding to fire departments. This move came shortly after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop such pauses, according to NBC News .

A manufacturer of fire gear confirmed to FireRescue1 that several of their customers have been impacted when trying to access Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) program grant funds in the past week. Outgoing payments are also reportedly paused for the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), among other programs.

In late January, President Trump’s budget office ordered a freeze on federal grant spending, as part of efforts to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent executive orders. A federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, and Trump’s budget office rescinded the order shortly thereafter. However, per NBC News , U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell said the Trump administration continues to block federal grant programs.

Stacey Street, FEMA’s director of the agency’s Office of Grant Administration, reportedly sent an email with the subject line “URGENT: Holds on awards,” directing her team to again freeze funding for grant programs, including those focused on firefighting and emergency preparedness. The email directed financial holds on “all open awards, all years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).”

Lexipol’s FireGrantsHelp team has been working with impacted awardees to determine next steps.

Additionally, the Congressional Fire Services Institute is requesting information from fire service agencies about their experience with federal grant programs . A CFSI newsletter stated: “Recent confusion around freezing certain federal grants has raised questions within the fire and emergency services about the status of the AFG and SAFER grant programs, and other federal grant programs. CFSI is well aware of these concerns and is working with the other national fire organizations to address them. You can help us by providing information on:

• The current status of grants awarded to your departments, and
• Any success stories on how these grants have directly benefited the health, safety, and capabilities of your departments and organizations.”

FireRescue1 will continue to track the latest updates on federal grant funding.