Through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) provides annual Homeland Security grants to state and local first responders within Louisiana. GOHSEP serves as the State Administrative Agent (SAA) for federal homeland security grants, and as the primary liaison with DHS and its Office of Grants and Training (G&T).

As the SAA, GOHSEP is responsible for the management of the following federal grant programs: the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP), the Citizen Corps Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), the Transportation Security Grant Program (TSGP), the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and the Buffer Zone Protection Plan (BZPP).

The eligible categories for most of the above grants include management and administration, training, planning, exercise, and equipment. The focus for Louisiana has been upon enhancing the capabilities of state and local first responders to prevent and respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) related incidents as detailed in the State Homeland Security Strategy.