Lawmakers, law enforcement and industry warn of gaps in World Cup and Olympics preparedness; push for drone authority and grant funding

At a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing, law enforcement leaders, venue operators and college athletics officials said federal funding shortfalls and limited counter‑drone authority are the most urgent gaps in preparing for upcoming mass gatherings, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Sheriff Donald Barnes, Orange County Sheriff's Department, told the subcommittee that fusion centers and federal grants are central to local preparedness and warned that "we have no national security or Homeland security without local law enforcement efforts." He said fusion centers provide intelligence and situational awareness that local responders rely on during large events and emergencies.

The hearing repeatedly returned to two policy priorities: funding for FEMA grant programs that support planning and intelligence sharing, and clearer, faster authority for addressing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Ranking Member Kennedy said the administration's budget proposes a $646,000,000 cut to FEMA's non‑disaster grant programs and called such reductions harmful to preparedness for major events.

John Janelle, chief security officer at Live Nation Entertainment, said the private sector lacks legal authority to counter hostile drones and urged changes to FAA processes and thresholds for temporary flight restrictions. "As a private entity, we lack the authority to counter drone activity, and law enforcement often lacks necessary capabilities and authority to respond," Janelle said, urging clearer guidance and an easier application process for TFRs.

Jeremy Hammond, assistant commissioner for the Southeastern Conference, told the panel that college campuses and athletic events regularly host very large crowds and face the same threat types as single high‑profile events. "A bad actor with the vehicle has become a hallmark of modern crowd attacks," Hammond said, listing vehicle mitigation, UAS threats and access to intelligence and staffing as top concerns.

Officials and members described how federal grant programs are used locally. Sheriff Barnes said fusion centers and some regional intelligence centers rely on a mix of federal grants — including the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stone Garden — and that losing those funds would force programs to scale back. He told members that fusion centers, stood up after 9/11, now cover "all crimes, all hazards" and provide products for state and federal partners.

On drones and TFRs, witnesses asked Congress and federal agencies to clarify implementation of recent FAA authorities. Live Nation praised Section 935 of last year’s FAA Reauthorization Act, which expanded FAA authority to issue TFRs for some large events, but said the process remains inconsistent and the current attendance thresholds exclude many outdoor events Live Nation operates. Live Nation urged lowering thresholds (they proposed 10,000 for outdoor events) and creating a clearer, centralized TFR submission process. Multiple witnesses also pressed for delegating mitigation authority to trained local agencies under federal guidance.

Members raised broader preparedness concerns tied to federal budget decisions. Several speakers echoed fears that cuts to FEMA preparedness grants, the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, and other federal programs would degrade training and readiness for first responders. Ranking Member Kennedy and Representatives Poe and Johnson cited delays or proposed reductions in federal funding as immediate obstacles to long‑range planning for the World Cup and Olympics.

Witnesses described operational strains local agencies expect: maintaining reserve tactical teams and bomb‑detection resources for prolonged events; interoperability shortfalls in communications across federal, state and local systems; and the need to scale canine, fire and medical assets across multiple simultaneous events. Sheriff Barnes described counter‑UAS shortfalls with examples of dangerous drone operations near airports and firefighting aircraft and urged earlier investment and policy to avoid capability shortfalls during large events.

The subcommittee's chairman said the committee had passed a budget reconciliation recommendation including additional preparedness funding for the World Cup and Olympics and announced a bipartisan task force on special event security. Members closed by asking witnesses to submit follow‑up materials in writing; the hearing record will remain open for questions for 10 days.

Looking ahead, witnesses and members emphasized that preparations must continue well before the events begin and that action on grants, counter‑UAS authority and interagency coordination will determine whether local responders can scale to meet the demands of many concurrent, high‑profile gatherings.