Key Takeaways
- •Chris Tomney (Director, Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness) reported that the DHS shutdown significantly delayed security planning, though he maintained that interagency cooperation would ensure safety.
- •Robert O'Leary (Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Trade Administration) estimated the tournament will generate $17 billion for the U.S. economy and highlighted surges in visa processing personnel.
- •Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) challenged O'Leary regarding a decline in international tourism, suggesting that administration travel bans and immigration rhetoric could discourage fans from attending matches.
- •Sen. Britt (R-AL) urged immediate DHS funding to support security missions, while Democrats expressed concerns that high ticket prices and data privacy requirements might alienate global visitors.
- •The subcommittee moved to a classified session to discuss sensitive security protocols, including counter-unmanned aerial systems and cyber defense strategies necessary to protect the multi-city event.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined the federal government's multi-agency preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing on security, logistics, and economic impacts. With an estimated five to six million fans expected across 11 U.S. host cities, the event represents one of the largest logistical challenges in the nation's history. Witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Commerce detailed the coordination efforts of the White House Task Force on FIFA World Cup 2026, established under Executive Order 14234, to ensure the safety of participants and maximize the projected $17 billion economic benefit to the United States.
Key Testimony & Policy
Robert O'Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism at the International Trade Administration (ITA), testified that the World Cup is expected to contribute over $17 billion to the U.S. GDP, with international fans projected to spend $6.4 billion. He highlighted the "FIFA pass," a priority visa scheduling system for ticket holders, and noted that the Department of State has surged 450 personnel to reduce visa wait times to under 60 days in 75 countries. O'Leary emphasized that this tournament begins a "decade of mega-tourism events," including the 2028 Olympics and the 2031 Women's World Cup.
Admiral Chris Tomney, Director for the Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness at DHS, discussed the department's role in managing Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) levels for matches. DHS is coordinating the distribution of $625 million in FEMA grant funding to host cities to defray security costs and $250 million specifically for counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology. Tomney noted that the tournament's scale—78 matches in 39 days—will multiply the department's annual workload for major events several times over.
Douglas Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Portland Field Office, detailed the bureau's focus on counterterrorism, cyber threats, and intelligence sharing. The FBI has established an Intelligence Coordination Center (ICC) and an International Police Coordination Center (IPCC) to facilitate global law enforcement collaboration. Olson highlighted the National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, which is certifying state and local officers to mitigate drone threats. He also confirmed the FBI is conducting name-based vetting for all individuals seeking accredited access to World Cup venues.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
A significant portion of the hearing involved partisan friction regarding the impact of administration policies on international tourism. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) criticized the Trump administration’s rhetoric and immigration policies, citing a social media post by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that described agents as being "suited and booted" for matches. He argued these actions, along with travel bans on 39 countries and threats to stop processing travelers at "sanctuary jurisdiction" airports, would chill international attendance and diminish economic benefits. Sen. Van Hollen also questioned O'Leary on why international tourism forecasts for 2025 failed to meet the department's 6% growth projections.
Republican members, including Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), focused on the operational impacts of the ongoing DHS shutdown. Admiral Tomney testified that the shutdown had "significantly impacted" operations, leading to the loss of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and hindering coordination with local law enforcement. Sen. Britt emphasized the need for robust counter-drone funding and expressed concern over the complexity of securing simultaneous events across the country compared to a single-site event like the Super Bowl.
Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI) raised concerns about cybersecurity, noting that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar faced billions of hacking attempts. He questioned how the government would protect host cities given recent budget cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Organizations Mentioned
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Leads the White House Task Force and manages federal security coordinators for each host city. - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Manages the Intelligence Coordination Center and conducts vetting for venue personnel. - International Trade Administration (ITA): Leads the Commerce Department’s efforts to measure economic impact and promote the U.S. as a destination. - Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA): The governing body for the tournament, discussed regarding ticket pricing, venue vetting, and security requirements. - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Responsible for distributing $625 million in security grants to the 11 host cities. - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Tasked with protecting tournament infrastructure from cyberattacks despite reported staffing shortages. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Involved in visa processing and port-of-entry security; criticized by some members for aggressive immigration rhetoric. - National Counter-UAS Training Center (NCUTC): The FBI-led facility in Alabama providing drone mitigation training to local law enforcement.
What's Next
The subcommittee moved into a classified session immediately following the public hearing to discuss specific threat intelligence and counter-drone capabilities. Witnesses were requested to provide responses to additional questions for the record (QFRs) within 30 days. Ongoing priorities include the continued certification of local law enforcement at the NCUTC and the finalization of the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to maximize the event's economic legacy.
Transcript
Good morning. I call this hearing to order. I just left my colleague Senator Britt in the Judiciary Committee meeting as she is asking questions and then coming here and our Democratic colleagues are expected momentarily. But to get started, I want to express my colleagues to my colleagues gratitude for agreeing to have this hearing and to bring two subcommittees, two Appropriations subcommittees together on an issue that set of issues that I think are really important. And so thanks to my colleagues Chairwoman Britt and to my ranking member Senator Van Hollen and ranking member Senator Murphy for agreeing, supporting and here by their presence today or soon to be their presence today an opportunity to help us discuss how we better prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. I also thank our witnesses today. We have Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert O'Leary, Admiral Chris Tunney and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Olson for their presence and for their continued work to support the efforts of the World Cup in the United States of America. World Cup will be one of the largest global events ever hosted in the United States with an estimated five to six million fans across 11 host cities with significant spillover into surrounding communities and states as visitors travel throughout our country. The games are significant opportunity to showcase American leadership, hospitality and coordination, and but it's also presents a complex set of security and logistical challenges that demand oversight. I've convened we're convening this hearing because the successful execution of the World Cup will depend on close coordination across the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice. DHS is leading the White House Task Force on FIFA World Cup 2026, which since its establishment last year has overseen many of the operational and interagency coordination efforts ahead of these games. At the same time, DOJ through the FBI will play a central role in intelligence, counterterrorism and crisis response. Ensuring that these efforts are aligned, resourced and clearly communicated across all levels of government is critical to supporting players, visitors and host cities. The Department of Commerce through the International Trade Administration is our nation's lead federal agency on matters related to travel and tourism. For Kansas, this effort is especially meaningful. Kansas City will host I should say for Kansas and Missouri, that's not my usual salutation, but for Kansas and Missouri, this effort will be especially meaningful. Kansas City will host multiple matches for four teams: England, Argentina, Algeria and the Netherlands are expected to base camp or stay in Kansas or the Kansas City region, bringing an estimated 650,000 visitors. This level of activity will place significant demands on local law enforcement, emergency management, infrastructure. Federal planning must reflect not only the needs of the largest host city, but communities like Kansas City. At the same time, this presents significant opportunities for Kansas City and Kansas for businesses and for broader travel and tourism economy. Hotels, restaurants, small businesses, local attractions will all play a role in welcoming visitors from around the globe. I'm particularly interested in how the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration are working to support host cities and maximizing these economic benefits, both by promoting the United States as a destination and ensuring our communities like Kansas City are prepared to meet the demands of increased travel and tourism. Congress has already taken steps to support these efforts, including providing $625 million in dedicated funding to support host cities. As planning continues, it's our responsibility to ensure these resources are being deployed effectively, that coordination across the jurisdictions is seamless and that host city communities, not just the designated cities like Kansas City, but surrounding towns, Lawrence and Prairie Village and others are equipped and left with a lasting benefit from the games. This is an important moment in our country's history. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our coordination at every level of government and across agencies from federal partners and state and local law enforcement. The way the FBI works alongside the police chief of Kansas City is exactly the kind of collaboration that will define our success. It's also a moment not just for the nation as a whole, but for host cities and surrounding communities and small towns to welcome the world. And it is an opportunity to take pride in the safety and security we provide and to showcase the very best of the United States on a global stage. I now recognize the Chairwoman and thank her for her cooperation in this joint hearing this morning. Chairwoman Britt.
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