Fairfax County leaders are voicing concern that proposed Trump administration’s cuts in homeland security grants could have a major local impact.
“It is a significant hit to our public safety agencies,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the board’s meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 14). “We will be very loud and outspoken about it.”
According to the Washington Post, the Department of Homeland Security is slashing up to 90% of its grant funding for national security and emergency management initiatives in the D.C. region, amounting to a loss of more than $40 million.
Like many of the administration’s proposals, this one will be fought out in court, with a coalition of state governments and D.C. already challenging the funding cuts. A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked DHS on Sept. 30 from cutting or reallocating the grants while the lawsuit is in the court system.
Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Homeland Security Grant Program is intended to help states and local governments prevent, prepare for and respond to terrorism and other threats.
The D.C. region has traditionally been awarded funds from the program’s Urban Area Security Initiative through the District’s emergency management agency, which then shares money with its regional partners, per the Washington Post. The region received approximately $45 million from the grant program in fiscal year 2024, but local officials were told in September that they would get just $4.4 million this year.
In their lawsuit, Democratic attorneys general representing D.C. and 11 states allege that FEMA appears to be unconstitutionally conditioning unrelated grant funds on compliance with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
If the proposed cutbacks are ruled legal, “this obliterates this critical public safety program,” McKay said. He voiced concern about the impact on both personnel and equipment that the grant funding supports.
The chair asked for, and received, approval from his colleagues to direct County Executive Bryan Hill and staff to investigate the potential impacts on the county, and “give us a plan” to address it.
Although Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity didn’t raise an objection to the measure, later in the meeting, he circled back on the issue.
Herrity was critical of his Democratic colleagues for proposing another letter to a Republican state official — in this case, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares — objecting to the state leadership’s unwillingness to push back on the Trump administration.
An agitated McKay replied that, as of now, there is no letter and no intended recipient, only a request for staff to investigate the implications of proposed cuts.
“Pay attention — the details matter,” McKay shot back at Herrity, the body’s lone Republican.
Herrity, McKay tangle over ‘Church Heritage’ proclamation
McKay and Herrity also clashed during yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting when the Springfield District supervisor failed for a second year to get any of his Democratic colleagues to support a resolution designating Nov. 20 as “Church Heritage Recognition Day” in Fairfax County.
When Herrity brought forward the proposal in 2024, the board opted to instead adopt a broader proclamation honoring religious freedom.
McKay said that proclamation “still stands” as county policy.
Herrity said he was perplexed that his proposed proclamation was seen as an affront to inclusivity.
“I’m not quite sure why we can’t recognize the Christian church,” he said.
Other board members were silent as the two sparred.
