Houston Council Approves Application for FEMA Counter-Drone Grant
Houston's city council in Texas approved an application for the second $250 million round of FEMA's counter-drone grant program. The vote came in a block of consent items, while rules for using the technology are still unfinished.
The Houston City Council in Texas on Wednesday approved the city's application for the second round of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) counter-drone grant program, which totals $250 million. The application passed as Ordinance 2026-0982. It lets the city seek money for technology that detects and counters unauthorized drones at large events, though the rules governing its use are not yet finished.
A vote without discussion
The item was one of 47 on the consent agenda and passed in a single block vote. No council member pulled it out for separate debate. The vote authorizes only an application, not a purchase, and the filing goes to the state as written.
According to the city's documents, the money would pay for technology to detect, identify, monitor, track and mitigate drones at every special event in the Houston region that carries a SEAR rating. The amount is listed as unknown, and the performance period runs from December 2026 to December 2029. Neither the city's filing nor FEMA's program page mentions buying drones.
Larry Satterwhite, who heads the mayor's public safety office, told broadcaster KPRC 2 the equipment would let officials see more and cover more ground. He said much of the capability would end up with the Houston Police Department. City officials are still working out the rules for how the technology will be used.
Earlier round and conditions
Council approved the first-round application, tied to the World Cup soccer tournament, in February, and in May agreed to reimburse the Harris County Sheriff's Office up to $1,254,000 for detection and mitigation systems. Texas state police seized eight drones around Houston's World Cup venues during the tournament's first week.
Drone jammers may be operated only by an accredited law enforcement or correctional agency using officers trained by the FBI. Agencies that buy detection gear with the grant must give the Department of Homeland Security access to flight tracks and data. Texas has $10,508,140 to distribute; the state's package is due to FEMA by November 16, and awards are expected on December 10.
