FY26 US DOT Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program
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The Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants program will distribute $9 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to eligible government entities to support the adoption of small unmanned aircraft systems for inspecting critical infrastructure. The goal is to enhance efficiency and safety in inspection, operation, construction, maintenance, and repair activities by enabling more widespread use of drone technology and related systems. Grant funds can be used to purchase or lease drones, develop or enhance inspection technologies, contract for external expertise when internal capabilities are insufficient, and manage program operations. Priority is given to projects that innovate in drone inspection systems, improve data management and platform interoperability, and simplify inspection workflows, particularly in multi-jurisdictional areas where complexity is high. The program emphasizes equitable geographic distribution and prioritizes initiatives that directly reduce safety risks to workers involved in infrastructure projects. Federal funding may cover up to 50 percent of total project costs, but lead applicants may request an increased share of up to 75 percent with a written justification demonstrating a clear need, such as economic hardship or additional workforce demands. Only government entities are eligible to apply as lead applicants; private companies, nonprofits, and higher education institutions may participate only as contractors or vendors, not as direct applicants. Applications must be submitted competitively, and selection will be based on the proposed project’s potential to advance safety, innovation, and operational efficiency in infrastructure inspection. The program is authorized under Public Law 118-63 and Public Law 119-75 and is administered by the Department of Transportation through the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy, with point of contact information provided for inquiries.
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The Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program will provide grants to eligible government entities to facilitate the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), referred to herein as drones, in critical infrastructure inspection. The objective is to increase the widespread adoption of drones and relevant technologies in support of more efficient Inspection, Operation, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair (IOCMR) of critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to critical infrastructure projects. The program is established by Section 912 of Public Law 118-63 and Public Law 119-75. Eligible uses of grant funds include purchasing, leasing, or enhancing drone systems; contracting for services when internal expertise is lacking in the government entities; and supporting program management for these systems and operations. The DIIG Program prioritizes projects that create and utilize innovative drone inspection technologies and systems, address inspection data management and data platform interoperability, and streamline inspection workflows and processes while accounting for the complexities inherent in multi-jurisdictional regions. Total available funds of $9,000,000 in the DIIG Program (Fiscal Year 2026) are to be awarded on a competitive basis. In selecting applications, the Department will prioritize projects carried out in a variety of communities and projects that address safety risks in the IOCMR of critical infrastructure.
The Federal share of the total project cost may not exceed 50 percent.
· A lead applicant may request an increase in the Federal share up to 75 percent.
· A request for an increased Federal share must be submitted in writing as part of the application.
· The request must demonstrate that additional Federal assistance is necessary to facilitate acceptance and full use of the grant, such as by alleviating economic hardship, meeting additional workforce needs, or other appropriate reasons determined by the Department.
Applications from private companies, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other non-governmental entities are not eligible unless such entities participate only as contractors, vendors, or other non-applicant partners to an eligible governmental entity.
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