Two Republican members of Congress are urging the federal government to give the National Guard a defined role in countering drone-related threats and in coordinating a unified security approach for the World Cup matches scheduled this summer across 11 U.S. host cities.
U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul and Elijah Crane, both members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, directed a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Friday. In that letter, the lawmakers asked for immediate interagency steps to secure the airspace above the venues and to ensure consistent federal leadership for event protection.
The representatives warned that personnel shortfalls and complex jurisdictional boundaries between event organizers and host city authorities could produce a fragmented security environment. They emphasized that these challenges make a single, coordinated federal position necessary to mitigate gaps in protection.
"With its rapid deployability, nationwide scalability, and extensive experience responding to domestic emergencies, the National Guard is uniquely positioned to assist federal and state authorities with C-UAS mitigation and unified coordination for World Cup security," they wrote in the letter.
Requests for comment sent to the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the Pentagon received no immediate responses.
The lawmakers’ appeal to authorize troops to address drone threats came a day before a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, an incident that heightened concerns about security for large events this summer. Following the shooting on Saturday, the White House responded on Monday by reiterating that the matches will be secure.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement that "President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history." The statement framed safety as a priority while promising a high-quality fan experience.
The letter from McCaul and Crane centers on two central objectives: preventing drone incursions into stadium airspace through coordinated counter-unmanned aircraft system measures, and avoiding a patchwork of responsibilities that could weaken overall event security. The representatives called for ‘‘immediate interagency action’’ to align federal, state and local efforts ahead of the tournaments.
Given the stakes for public safety and the logistical complexity of protecting multiple large venues across different jurisdictions, the lawmakers contend that the National Guard could provide scalable resources and command support to complement federal and local security forces.