Halcyon Advocates for State and Local Cybersecurity Funding as PILLAR Act Passes House

Halcyon's Cynthia Kaiser joins industry leaders supporting critical legislation extending ransomware protection funding through 2033

When ransomware attacks succeed, they shut down emergency services, compromise water and other utilities, disrupt hospitals and schools, and undermine public trust. Tools exist to prevent and protect from a large variety of these attacks, but not all critical infrastructure can afford them without funding support.

That's why Halcyon joined leading cybersecurity vendors advocating for the Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act (PILLAR Act), which passed the House on November 18, 2025, with broad bipartisan support.

Halcyon Takes a Stand: Cynthia Kaiser Speaks Out

Cynthia Kaiser, Senior Vice President of Halcyon's Ransomware Research Center, was quoted in the House Committee on Homeland Security's official announcement alongside Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, Fortinet, SentinelOne, and Dragos.

Cynthia Kaiser, SVP, Halcyon Ransomware Research Center:

"Halcyon is excited to see the House take up legislation to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. The program has been a vital lifeline for under-resourced state, local, tribal, and territorial governments seeking to improve their cybersecurity posture and protect their citizens in an increasingly dangerous threat environment. These governments are regularly targeted by ransomware and other advanced cyber threats that result in disruption of public services, theft of confidential information, and even loss of essential functions like medical facilities and water utilities. Renewing this program will be a major boost to the cybersecurity of our communities, and the nation. Halcyon is grateful for the work of Rep. Ogles, Rep. Garbarino, Rep. Swalwell, Rep. Evans, and Rep. Vindman to push this forward."

What the PILLAR Act Does

The PILLAR Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and cosponsored by Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) and Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), reauthorizes the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) through 2033.

The original SLCGP provided $1 billion over four years but lapsed September 30, 2025. The PILLAR Act provides long-term reauthorization jurisdictions need for strategic investments.

Key provisions:

• Extended authorization through 2033

• Expanded scope to include AI and Operational Technology systems

• Enhanced threat monitoring and vulnerability assessment

• Strengthened federal-state-local coordination

• Requires 80% of state funding support local governments

How Governments Can Use SLCGP Funding

Approved grants can fund:

• Cybersecurity plan development and updates

• Anti-ransomware technology and security solutions

• Automated patch management and MFA deployment

• Security Operations Centers and shared services

• Critical cybersecurity personnel and training

Why Halcyon for State and Local Government Protection

Halcyon provides the anti-ransomware platform designed for organizations that can't afford prolonged downtime or ransom payments—ideal for SLCGP-funded initiatives.

Our protection includes:

• Prevention at Pre-Execution: AI-powered detection blocks ransomware before it executes

• Protection Against Tampering: Prevents attackers from disabling EDR and security controls

• Data Exfiltration Detection: Identifies bulk data theft before double extortion begins

• Encryption Key Capture: Captures keys during attacks, enabling rapid recovery

• Hours-to-Recovery: Reduces downtime from 22 days to hours or days

• 24/7 Expert Support: Incident response included at no additional cost

• Industry-Leading Warranty: Financial protection eliminating ransom payment pressure

Halcyon directly addresses SLCGP program priorities: rapid incident response, operational resilience, and measurable cybersecurity outcomes.

Industry Coalition: Driving the Agenda Forward

Halcyon joined Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, Fortinet, SentinelOne, and Dragos in publicly supporting the PILLAR Act—advocating for resources governments need, not just selling products.

Through collaborative engagement with industry partners and direct policymaker outreach, Halcyon helped drive the agenda forward, ensuring legislators understood that ransomware poses existential threats to under-resourced governments requiring purpose-built capabilities and long-term funding certainty.

What's Next

The PILLAR Act moves to the Senate with strong bipartisan support. Governments should prepare by reviewing CISA's Cybergrants resources, developing cybersecurity plans, and engaging technology partners who understand government requirements.

Now is the time to incorporate purpose-built ransomware defense into your SLCGP strategy.

Leverage SLCGP Funding for Ransomware Protection

Halcyon provides purpose-built anti-ransomware protection designed for state and local governments. Our platform ensures critical services remain operational when attacks occur—and our advocacy ensures you have the federal support needed to implement comprehensive defenses.  

Halcyon is committed to protecting under-resourced organizations and advocating for policies that strengthen America's cybersecurity. Visit our Government and Education pages to learn more.

‍