25 Years Later: Evolutions in Federal, State, and Local Counterterrorism Efforts Since 9/11

This Homeland Security Committee hearing on September 17, 2026, commemorated 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and examined the evolution of federal, state, and local counterterrorism preparedness and response efforts. The discussion emphasized the critical role of federal grant programs such as the Urban Area Security Initiative, Transit Security Grant Program, Port Security Grant Program, Nonprofit Security Grant Program, Operation Stonegarden, and Emergency Management Performance Grant, with funding levels cited in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Witnesses from fire departments, emergency services, and the Port Authority highlighted the importance of sustained and stable federal funding to support intelligence sharing, incident management, technology investments, and regional coordination. Concerns were raised about recent proposed and actual cuts to homeland security grants and FEMA workforce reductions, which could undermine preparedness and response capabilities. The hearing also addressed the need to modernize the National Incident Management System, improve information sharing mechanisms, and support long-term health care for 9/11 responders and survivors. Members underscored the importance of bipartisan support for counterterrorism funding and the necessity of maintaining robust federal-local partnerships to prevent future attacks.