Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT)

The purpose of the PROTECT Program is to provide grants on a competitive basis for projects that seek to strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, heat waves, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk costal infrastructure. This Assistance Listing 20.284 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.205, please refer to former ALN 20.205 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.284 will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.

Eligible applicants include the following: States (including D.C. and Puerto Rico) or political subdivision of a State Metropolitan planning organizations Units of local governments Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including a port authority or a public transit agency Indian Tribes Federal land management agencies that apply jointly with a State or group of States A multi-State or multi-jurisdictional group of entities consisting of any eligible entities listed above

Varies by project. FHWA determines criteria for selecting proposals based on the stated objectives of the funding opportunity.