State and local organizations are highly targeted by cyber criminals due to the value of the data they hold and the criticality of the systems they operate. In 2024, there were over 40,000 potential cyber attacks targeting state, local, and tribal governments. Despite this very real threat, these same organizations are largely underfunded and understaffed when it comes to cyber protection.

The federal government has looked to fill this gap between risk and preparedness. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) was established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, providing (when combined with the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program) $1 billion in funding available over four years for state, local, tribal, and territorial cybersecurity efforts. This program ended at the close of the 2025 government fiscal year but received a short-term extension under the stopgap funding agreement that reopened the government in November 2025. Continue reading →