---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 608"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "608"
heading: "Prioritization"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/608"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XV — Homeland Security Grants"
  - "Part A — Grants to States and High-Risk Urban Areas"
---

# §608. Prioritization

- (a) **In general—** In allocating [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) among [States](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) and [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) applying for grants under section [604](/usc/6/604.md) or [605](/usc/6/605.md) of this title, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall consider, for each [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6)—
  - (1) its relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), including consideration of—
    - (A) its [population](/usc/6/601.md?p=10), including appropriate consideration of military, tourist, and commuter [populations](/usc/6/601.md?p=10);
    - (B) its [population density](/usc/6/601.md?p=11);
    - (C) its history of threats, including whether it has been the target of a prior [act of terrorism](/usc/6/444.md?p=2-A);
    - (D) its degree of threat, vulnerability, and consequences related to [critical infrastructure](/usc/6/101.md?p=4) (for all [critical infrastructure sectors](/usc/6/601.md?p=3)) or [key resources](/usc/6/101.md?p=12) identified by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) or the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security plan, including threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences related to [critical infrastructure](/usc/6/101.md?p=4) or [key resources](/usc/6/101.md?p=12) in nearby jurisdictions;
    - (E) the most current threat assessments available to the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5);
    - (F) whether the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) has, or the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) is located at or near, an international border;
    - (G) whether it has a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters;
    - (H) its likely need to respond to acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) occurring in nearby jurisdictions;
    - (I) the extent to which it has unmet [target capabilities](/usc/6/601.md?p=13);
    - (J) in the case of a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6), the extent to which that [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) includes—
      - (i) those incorporated municipalities, counties, parishes, and [Indian tribes](/usc/6/601.md?p=7) within the relevant [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5), the inclusion of which will enhance regional efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18); and
      - (ii) other local and [tribal governments](/usc/6/601.md?p=14) in the surrounding area that are likely to be called upon to respond to acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) within the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6); and
    - (K) such other factors as are specified in writing by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1); and
  - (2) the anticipated effectiveness of the proposed use of the grant by the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) in increasing the ability of that [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), to meet its [target capabilities](/usc/6/601.md?p=13), and to otherwise reduce the overall risk to the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6), the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), or the Nation.
- (b) **Types of threat—** In assessing threat under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall consider the following types of threat to [critical infrastructure sectors](/usc/6/601.md?p=3) and to [populations](/usc/6/601.md?p=10) in all areas of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), urban and rural:
  - (1) Biological.
  - (2) Chemical.
  - (3) Cyber.
  - (4) Explosives.
  - (5) Incendiary.
  - (6) Nuclear.
  - (7) Radiological.
  - (8) Suicide bombers.
  - (9) Such other types of threat determined relevant by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XX, § 2007, as added Pub. L. 110–53, title I, § 101, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 282.)