Synopsis

The Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces this funding opportunity to strengthen Iraq’s ability to investigate and respond to terrorist attacks and incursions along the Iraq-Syria border during a critical period of regional transition. This program should deliver concrete returns for American taxpayers by reducing threats to U.S. diplomatic and military facilities, safeguarding American commercial operations, and preventing terrorist attacks that endanger Americans abroad. The proliferation of Iran-aligned militia groups (IAMGs) and continued presence of ISIS in the region have created a fragile security environment with elevated risks of border exploitation for weapons, explosives, and human smuggling. Porous borders enable IAMGs and other terrorist organizations to move personnel, material, and illicit goods that directly threaten U.S. personnel, American commercial interests, and regional stability affecting U.S. security. Recent events illustrate the ongoing threat from IAMGs, who attacked numerous U.S. personnel and facilities in Erbil and Baghdad since February 28. They have historically conducted rocket and drone attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities, military installations, and commercial facilities. By supporting Iraq’s border security capabilities, this program reduces terrorist operational capacity that threatens U.S. interests. This program should be designed to reduce Iraq’s long-term dependency on U.S. taxpayer resources by building sustainable Iraqi civilian law enforcement capabilities to independently respond to attacks and dismantle illicit transit networks. Consistent with the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS)’s principle of “burden-sharing and burden-shifting,” this program should include a train-the-trainer component to enable Iraqi civilian forces to establish an Iraqi-owned training capability, reducing long-term U.S. resource commitments.
Response Date	Jun 08, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Posting Date	Apr 14, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date
Award Ceiling	6,808,090
Award Floor	6,808,090
Cost Sharing	No

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Additional Info on Eligibility:	Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations Public and private educational institutions For-profit organizations (only if allowed by appropriation) Public International Organizations (PIOs) and Governmental institutions

Additional Information

Agency Name	Bureau of Counterterrorism
Link to Additional Information:	Link to Opportunity in MyGrants
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk Phone: 703-516-1684

CFDA Program(s)

• 19.701: Global Counterterrorism Programs