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MAPC warns federal funding cuts threaten homeland-security management and building-code work
Summary
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council said recent federal cuts — including loss of EDA planning funds, a DOER building-code grant and trimmed management funds for UASI homeland-security grants — could reduce MAPC’s ability to run regional programs and require backfill funding.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) told officers on Oct. 14 that several recent federal funding changes could disrupt the agency’s ability to manage regional programs, particularly homeland-security program management and state building-code assistance.
Executive Director Lizzie said the region did not receive its usual Economic Development Administration (EDA) planning funds this year, a relatively small but longstanding allocation (previously about $70,000 annually) used to shepherd communities applying to EDA infrastructure programs. “We would not be receiving the economic development planning funds this year,” she said, noting most of New England’s EDA-designated planning entities were not funded in this round.
Lizzie also reported that Department of Energy cuts to federal grants flowed through the state and resulted in the loss or severe reduction of a DOER grant intended to support building-code work, with the change effectively retroactive to Sept. 30. She said that project — which aimed to analyze Massachusetts’ code situation and produce a toolkit for municipalities — will need to be ended or significantly cut unless reimbursable expenses can be recovered after a government reopening.
Most urgently, MAPC is monitoring a Department of Homeland Security reallocation that trimmed the management portion of Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants for some metropolitan areas, including Boston. “They specifically cut funding for the management of the program,” Lizzie said. “If the program itself pot of money stays the same, but you don't actually have dollars to get those dollars out the door, the program effectually is inoperable.” She said that litigation — including temporary restraining orders — has been filed in several jurisdictions challenging the reallocation.
Officers asked how soon the cuts would be felt. Lizzie said some impacts will appear at midyear for current fiscal items and that UASI management cuts relate to FY26 timing; MAPC typically spends older award years while programming future years, which provides a buffer but not immunity. She said the agency is pursuing backfill options, including outreach to a state Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO) program that may be able to partially cover lost EDA support.
MAPC emphasized the cuts do not automatically end program activity but increase implementation risk and could reduce the agency’s capacity to administer grants and convene partners. Lizzie said MAPC does not lose its EDA designation by losing the planning funds but does need resources to staff the associated work.
Next steps: MAPC staff said they are already discussing potential backfill sources and monitoring litigation over UASI reallocation; officers offered to follow up once staff have more concrete mitigation plans.
