Government funding deal reups cyber grant program

"The end of the longest federal government shutdown in history late Wednesday night also reauthorized a popular federal cybersecurity grant program for state and local governments. Congress included a reauthorization of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program in its spending deal, after the program expired in September. The $1 billion program was originally funded by the 2021 infrastructure law and has proven very popular with state and local governments."

"The Government Accountability Office found in a report earlier this year that the program helped fund 839 state and local cybersecurity projects as of Aug. 1, 2024, by which time the Department of Homeland Security had provided $172 million in grants to states out of a total $1 billion in funding. Those projects included developing cybersecurity policy, hiring cybersecurity contractors, upgrading equipment and implementing multi-factor authentication."

"State tech leaders praised the reauthorization's inclusion in Congress' continuing resolution, which also ended the 43-day shutdown and funded the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program through Sept. 2026. In a statement before the bill's final passage, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers said it was "encouraged" to see the grant program included in negotiations. "SLCGP has been instrumental in helping state and local governments strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and the inclusion of both demonstrates that Congress is indeed taking this issue seriously," NASCIO continued."

Congress’ continuing resolution that ended the 43-day federal shutdown reauthorized the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), a $1 billion program created by the 2021 infrastructure law that had expired in September. Legislation to extend SLCGP for ten years has advanced in the House and awaits a floor vote. State technology leaders and NASCIO welcomed the reauthorization. The Government Accountability Office reported SLCGP had funded 839 state and local cybersecurity projects by Aug. 1, 2024, with DHS disbursing $172 million; funded activities included policy development, contractor hiring, equipment upgrades and multi-factor authentication.

Read at Nextgov.com