On August 17, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an information bulletin announcing the final awards and allocations under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 preparedness grant programs, including the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP), and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
The TSGP provides $93 million for eligible public transportation systems to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism.
The IBSGP provides $2 million to owners and operators of intercity bus systems providing service to historically eligible UASI-designated high-risk urban areas to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.
The UASI provides $615 million to address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-risk urban areas, and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism.
Summary of UASI and TSGP
In the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations Bills
On June 24, 2022, the House Committee on Appropriations approved its FY 2023 DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 8257). H.R. 8257 includes federal assistance through the FEMA grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other activities, including:
- $615 million for the UASI, a decrease of $125 million from the FY 2022 enacted level of $740 million.
- $105 million for the TSGP, of which $10 million is for Amtrak security and $2 million is for Over-the-Road Bus Security. Transit security grants are provided directly to public transit agencies. This amount is the same as the FY 2022 enacted level.
On June 28, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released its FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill (S. 4678), providing:
- $605 million for the UASI, a decrease of $135 million from the FY 2022 enacted level of $740 million. This funding is $10 million less than the $615 million provided by the House FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
- $105 million for the TSGP, of which $10 million is for Amtrak security and $2 million is for Over-the-Road Bus Security. Transit security grants are provided directly to public transit agencies. This amount is the same as both the FY 2022 enacted level and the amount provided in the House FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
No other policy changes were made in either the House or Senate FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill related to TSA security programs for public transportation or passenger rail.
To view the House Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please click here, and the accompanying report, please click here.
To view the draft Senate Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please click here, and the accompanying report, please click here.
