Nevada OEM says FEMA review council decision, grant delays will shape 2025 emergency funding
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Summary
OEM reported the Dec. 11 FEMA review council meeting could reshape national emergency management policy and confirmed EMPG and homeland-security grants for 2025 are on hold; EMPG is pending FEMA acceptance of Nevada's population certification and other grants have been delayed, shortening review windows.
Rick Thompson, chief of the Nevada Office of Emergency Management, told the council that a FEMA review council scheduled for Dec. 11 will provide recommendations that could have "a dramatic effect on the future of emergency management across this country." He urged interested stakeholders to watch the council's recommendations.
Thompson said both EMPG (Emergency Management Performance Grant) and homeland-security grant categories for 2025 remain on hold. He said EMPG funds are contingent on FEMA accepting Nevada's population-certification statement and that homeland-security grant reviews were delayed by a late grant release and a federal government closure. Thompson added that the typical three-year review window for those grants has changed to one year, which will "require you to be extremely effective in any of these monies that you will receive, to be able to, expend it."
No formal action was taken; the update was provided for information and planning. Thompson said the timing and contents of the FEMA review council report were unknown at the time of the meeting and could change allocation timelines and requirements for states.
The OEM did not provide dollar amounts or a precise timeline for when grants will be released; the agency emphasized that jurisdictions should be prepared to spend awarded funds within tightened performance windows if awards are made.