In less than three months, the United States will welcome the world for the greatest sporting event in human history: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our country will host 78 matches over a 40-day period in 11 American host cities during America’s 250th anniversary. This showcase of American exceptionalism is expected to attract more than five million visitors and generate $30 billion in economic output.
And yet, President Donald Trump’s White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being stymied in ensuring the safety and security of the event, as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown limits DHS’s ability to prepare for this unprecedented global tournament.
When Congress failed to fund DHS more than a month ago, critical agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) were forced to operate with limited resources and unpaid staff and suspend certain operations.
Each of these agencies, as well as all 23 components housed within DHS, are critical to the White House FIFA Task Force’s whole-of-government approach to protecting both U.S. citizens and international visitors.
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Weston McKennie #8 of the United States plays the ball during a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and USMNT at Al Bayt Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Right now, the DHS closure is hampering the department’s ability to prepare for the largest influx of visitors in U.S. history. This closure is not merely a matter of bureaucratic inconvenience; it is a direct threat to our national security.
The first kick-off is less than 80 days away. The longer this shutdown continues, the more gaps may arise in our safety and operational planning, preparedness and coordination. Our ability to host a safe World Cup suffers every day that Congress refuses to fund us.
As millions of visitors arrive for the World Cup, America’s airports, cities and ports must be ready. The shutdown makes that virtually impossible.
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TSA will play a crucial role in ensuring that football fans around the world can move around the country without harm. Currently, nearly 95% of TSA employees are working without pay, and the financial strain is causing the call rate to double across the country, with more than 450 agents having resigned since the shutdown began.
With fewer agents showing up, TSA has had to consolidate or reduce the number of checkpoints at some airports, creating significantly longer lines for all passengers. Each officer must screen more travelers, increasing the risk of missed threats. At John F. Kennedy International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, callout rates have reached 40%. It is even worse at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (55%).
Now imagine this scenario playing out during the busiest travel season in American history – where each of these metropolitan areas will host World Cup matches this summer.
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In addition, plans for new upgrades to checkpoint technology at the World Cup Gateway airports are at risk of being postponed or canceled in the event of a prolonged closure. World Cup-specific staffing, canine deployment, and coordination with airport and law enforcement partners are all falling victim to travel restrictions, approval delays, and canceled training sessions.
TSA’s Federal Air Marshal Service’s efforts to assess vulnerabilities and deploy Counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft system) capabilities to transportation sites are also at risk. Extended shutdowns delay or cancel planned security assessments, procurement of C-UAS systems, and training on new equipment, which directly impact our ability to detect and mitigate drone threats around key transportation hubs.
If Congress doesn’t act, we risk missing threats at our busiest airports just as fans are arriving from all corners of the world.
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The majority of DHS training and exercises for first responders and cybersecurity are on hold. limiting our ability to prepare for physical and cyber threats during the World Cup. Furloughs and reduced staffing are impacting DHS’s ability to conduct security assessments, jeopardizing our intelligence position and hindering collaboration with our partners during this critical planning exercise.
The Coast Guard must protect American ports and waterways during the World Cup. With nearly 75% of the specialized civilian workforce furloughed and no money for contracts or training, the Coast Guard faces skills shortages and the risk of mission failure. The Coast Guard needs to mobilize about a thousand security forces and support personnel for World Cup events, but without funding they cannot pay for equipment or provide advanced training.
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TSA will play a crucial role in ensuring that football fans around the world can move around the country without harm.
The longer DHS is forced to operate without funding, the more likely American security and the success of the tournament will be at risk. Party politics endangers the safety of our communities and the success of this historic event.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The bottom line: Congress must act now. End the shutdown. Restore DHS funding. Provide DHS with the necessary resources to deliver a safe, secure and unforgettable World Cup. The clock is ticking. The world will be watching. Congress owes it to the American people to ensure that the World Cup stunningly – and safely – heralds the start of America’s Golden Age.
