All but two U.S. states and territories have applied for federal funding set aside last year to help local communities address cybersecurity issues, with Florida and South Dakota the notable exceptions.
As part of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending deal signed into law last year, $1 billion was allocated to state and local governments to upgrade their cybersecurity defenses.
The program is being administered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). States were urged to send in applications late last year for a portion of the first $185 million tranche.
During a cybersecurity event in January, CISA Deputy Assistant Director of Stakeholder Engagement Trent Frazier said 54 states and territories had applied by the November deadline, and awarded funding will be distributed once the plans for how the money will be spent have been reviewed.
“We would have loved to see all 56 states and territories apply for their allocation. Unfortunately two opted not to apply for that allocation in year one on principle,” he said. “We will certainly invite them to apply again in year two because we believe that across the country, there are needs that need to be addressed and this is a viable program to ensure that our local communities and our states have resources to address those needs.”
Frazier later confirmed that the two states that did not apply are Florida and South Dakota.
State officials in Florida and others from the office of Governor Ron DeSantis directed The Record to the state’s cybersecurity department – the Florida Digital Service – which attributed the move to concerns about the application process for funding.
