FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chairman Green, Vice Chairman McCaul Announce Bipartisan Task Force on Enhancing National Security for Upcoming FIFA 2026, 2028 Olympics, US 250th Anniversary
WASHINGTON––Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) and Vice Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) announced the establishment of the “Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States,” which will conduct oversight of security preparations for major upcoming international events, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, the 2025 Ryder Cup, and the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.
Vice Chairman McCaul will serve as chairman of the task force. Additional members of the bipartisan task force, who will be announced in the coming days, plan to visit select event sites in advance, hold hearings, host roundtables, and release a final report on their findings as part of the Committee’s oversight of National Special Security Events (NSSEs) and major Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) events.
“As the U.S. prepares to host high-profile events like the Olympics and the World Cup, it’s imperative that we make robust security preparations to ensure Americans—and millions of international guests—can safely enjoy their experience,” Task Force Chairman McCaul said. “While these events provide a unique opportunity to showcase the United States’ global leadership and commitment to excellence, they can also attract increased threats as our adversaries and other malign actors seek to exploit and sabotage them. I’m proud our committee is addressing these challenges head-on, in close coordination with the administration, to empower all levels of our government, law enforcement, first responders, and other stakeholders to execute events that are spirited, seamless, and—most importantly—safe.”
“Over the next four years, major cities across America will host a historic number of international events, with millions of guests from across the globe visiting our communities. While this is an important opportunity to showcase American exceptionalism, we have seen time and time again that mass-spectator events can present unique challenges for law enforcement and prime opportunities for America’s adversaries,” Committee Chairman Green said. “From the Boston Marathon bombing and ISIS threats against the recent Paris Olympics, to the New Year’s Day attack in advance of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, it is of the utmost importance that we learn from the past and ensure the federal government leads robust and coordinated security efforts alongside state and local officials, emergency managers, and all levels of law enforcement to stay ahead of threats in the coming months.
“With jurisdiction over DHS, including the Secret Service, FEMA, and TSA, this Committee has an important oversight role when it comes to ensuring the success of President Trump’s newly announced FIFA task force. I look forward to undertaking this essential, bipartisan mission alongside my colleagues to ensure the safety of Americans and international visitors alike during their travel to, and participation in, these high-profile events.”
Background:
In March, President Trump created the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Executive Order 14234. The task force, housed within the Department of Homeland Security, “shall coordinate with executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assist in the planning, organization, and execution of the events surrounding the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
The 2026 World Cup will be held throughout North America in June and July 2026 and include over 70 matches to be played in 11 different cities across the United States. Difficulties in managing spectator behavior at the 2024 Copa América, played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, have given rise to concerns regarding the United States’ readiness for hosting an international sporting event of the World Cup’s size. FIFA anticipates that at least five million fans will travel to the United States for the World Cup, with as many as six billion viewers watching the event online.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in the greater Los Angeles area from July 14-August 27, 2028. The Paralympic Games will begin on August 15, 2028. While the Olympics are still several years away, the games have already been designated an NSSE. An NSSE designation is based in part on the event’s significance, size, and attendees, and qualifies the event for significant federal, state, and local resources in implementing a comprehensive security plan. The U.S. Secret Service is designated as the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating, planning, exercising, and implementing security for NSSEs.
The House Homeland Security Committee’s budget reconciliation recommendations, which were advanced through Committee last week, included $625 million for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and $1 billion for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Funding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) State Homeland Security Grant Program.
Last month, the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine public- and private-sector efforts to secure and improve the U.S. travel system ahead of major international events. Witnesses highlighted the challenges facing the U.S. travel system today, including out-of-date technology, operational inefficiencies, increased global competition, and evolving threats from unmanned aerial systems, or drones. Utilizing artificial intelligence, enhancing interagency coordination throughout the federal government and the private sector, and reforming counter-drone authorities were solutions identified by witnesses and members to ensure security and efficiency for the traveling public ahead of mass-spectator events. Last Congress, Cathy Lanier, the chief security officer for the National Football League (NFL), provided written testimony stating that drone incursions over stadiums grew more than 3,000 percent in 2023 compared to 2018.
###
