NEWS FROM CISA / DHS
On October 6, 2026, DHS’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) and the DHS Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE) co-hosted the SLTT Agencies and the Counter‑UAS Mission Webinar. Presenters highlighted C‑UAS updates, including:
- Phase II of the DHS/FEMA C-UAS Grant Program
- C-UAS testing and evaluation activities
- Findings from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Available training, policy, and equipment‑selection resources for SLTT partners
- The new HSIN SLTT C-UAS Resource Hub
Key Points to Know:
- If you are interested in attending future SLTT C‑UAS meetings, please email sUASsecurity@cisa.dhs.gov to request to be added to the distribution list.
- The FIFA World Cup C-UAS AAR is being finalized and will be posted on the HSIN SLTT C-UAS Resource Hub.
- SAFER SKIES Act Interim Final Rule (IFR): DHS and DOJ are adjudicating IFR comments prior to publishing the final rule. The IFR expands C‑UAS detection and mitigation authority to trained and accredited SLTT law enforcement and correctional agencies.
- FEMA C‑UAS Grants: The FY27 C-UAS grant round is now open. FEMA will award $250 million through the Fiscal Year 2027 Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program. Applications must be submitted by the State Administrative Agency (SAA) through FEMA GO on behalf of eligible applicants.
- To access the new HSIN SLTT C-UAS Resource Hub:
- From the HSIN main page, select Communities > Community Directory
- Select the list icon in the upper‑left corner
- Under Manage Access, select Manage My Access.
- Under Search Access, search for “SLTT Counter‑UAS Resource Hub”
- Select the check mark for Viewer
- Select Next
- Enter a justification comment in the required field marked with a red asterisk (e.g., request access to C-UAS resources in support of CISA’s special event and critical infrastructure protection efforts)
- Select Submit
- Note: There is currently a known HSIN issue affecting the SLTT Counter-UAS Resource Hub. Although users may receive an email confirming access approval after completing the above the steps, the hub may not appear under the “My Communities” section. The community owner is aware of the issue and is actively working to resolve.
Why this Matters:
- The webinar reinforced expectations that SLTT agencies adopt a layered, risk‑informed, and policy‑driven approach that includes accredited training, model policies, coordinated planning, and approved technologies before conducting any C‑UAS activities.
- Lessons learned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup highlight the importance of early site coordination, credentialing, communications redundancy, render safe location planning, and local LE integration.
Additional UAS/C-UAS Updates:
-
TFR Reminder: Initiate Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) planning early.
- For 99.7 TFR requests, submit to CISA 3-4 weeks in advance.
- For 44812 TFR requests (these go directly from SLTT LE to the FAA), submit to the FAA at least 30 calendar days before the event.
- FESSA 2209 Rulemaking: FAA published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 6, 2026, outlining the process for establishing fixed‑site UAS flight restrictions. FAA is currently adjudicating comments before issuing the final rule. CISA continues to support the interagency review process.
UPCOMING EVENT:
[DRONERESPONDERS] Countering the Threat: Drone Security Industry & SLTT Grant Forum
Hosted by the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics, DRONERESPONDERS, and the Commercial Drone Alliance, this important forum will bring together leaders from government, industry, and the public safety community to address the evolving challenges and opportunities surrounding drone security. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions focused on emerging UAS and CUAS threats, major event security planning, critical infrastructure protection, and strategies to enhance state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) capabilities.
This collaborative event provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from key decision-makers, share lessons learned, explore innovative technologies, and strengthen partnerships across sectors. As the nation prepares for future large-scale events and an increasingly complex airspace environment, attendees will help shape solutions that support a safer, more secure, and resilient drone ecosystem. Join us in building the partnerships, policies, and capabilities needed to secure the future of UAS operations in the United States.
For more information or questions, please contact sUASsecurity@cisa.dhs.gov or visit cisa.gov/be-air-aware.
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DRONE SECURITY INDUSTRY & SLTT GRANT FORUM
Are you a critical infrastructure manager, airport operator, emergency manager, state aviation director, or public safety professional trying to make sense of the rapidly evolving drone security landscape and the funding opportunities available to support your mission? If so, you're not alone. Organizations across the country are facing increasing pressure to understand emerging drone threats, evaluate new technologies, navigate changing policies, and identify funding sources to support both UAS and counter-UAS capabilities.
On November 9, The White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics, DRONERESPONDERS, and the Commercial Drone Alliance are hosting the Drone Security Industry & SLTT Grant Forum at MGM Grand National Harbor in Oxen Hill, MD. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from federal leaders, public safety practitioners, and industry experts. Attendees will gain leadership insights and operational lessons learned from DHS, FEMA, FBI, FIFA World Cup security teams, state and local planning officials, and leading technology providers on drone security planning considerations, funding opportunities, policy developments, and practical strategies for navigating these complex and rapidly changing challenges. Whether you're building a program, seeking funding, or planning for incident response, this forum can help answer your questions and connect you with the resources you need to move forward.
