FY26 Homeland Security Appropriations Act in Early Legislative Stage 

October 15, 2025

On June 24, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee voted to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill . As of today, the bill has not yet been taken up on the House Floor. 

The bill includes a total of $720 million for Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants, with funding available through September 30, 2027. Each program under the House committee’s bill would receive $360 million. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to markup its DHS FY2026 appropriations bill. 

We ask that you contact your House and Senate members to encourage them to protect these critical funding sources. 

Key messages include: 

  • Since the program’s inception in 2001, AFG has remained critical in supporting our nation’s fire service and the nearly 1 million firefighters nationwide that rely on the program to meet their equipment needs. However, as first responder responsibilities increase, more work must be done to expand the AFG program to meet their needs. 
  • In 2023, the nation’s fire and rescue services responded to more than 42.4 million calls to protect the public. As the population ages and expands, this number is expected to increase significantly. 
  • AFG is one of the most efficiently-run and effective programs in the federal government. Funds are distributed directly to local fire departments. Bureaucracy is minimal and local community benefit is paramount. 
  • Critical Gaps in Firefighter Safety and Readiness: 
    • 53% of all fire departments cannot equip all firefighters on a shift with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). 
    • 55% of departments have personnel who engage in structural firefighting but have not been formally trained. 
    • 21% of department personnel who perform EMS lack certification.
    • 64% of all departments have at least one piece of personal protective clothing that is 10 years old. 
    • 49% of all fire department engines and pumpers are at least 15 years old.
  • The House Appropriations committee funded each program at $360 in the FY2026 bill. Please support the House Appropriations mark for these programs. 

For a summary of the bill, click here.