Officials from World Cup host cities offered a word of warning to a session of Congress over security concerns, inadequate federal funding and coordination issues which could lead to catastrophic results when the world arrives in the United States.
Local leaders and witnesses urged the House Homeland Security Committee to unfreeze funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) which have been earmarked for security in the eleven American cities hosting World Cup matches.
According to testimony from these officials, local agencies have failed to accurately coordinate with each other and the federal government in the process of protecting the stadiums, transportation, hotels, fan events and practice locations.
Security at the World Cup has been an ever-evolving issue. Witnesses and committee members cited the presence of ICE agents and subsequent backlash against them as a possible problem as well as drone threats, the recent rise in cartel violence in Mexico and human trafficking.
This hearing came amidst an ongoing freeze in Homeland Security funding after the deadly shooting of two US citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis led to scrutiny on the department.
The Daily Mail has contacted the White House World Cup Task Force, run by Andrew Giuliani, for comment on this matter.
Host cities for the FIFA World Cup are sounding the alarm on a lack of security funding
Local officials testified at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing to explain the issue of the lack of funds amid growing security concerns surrounding the upcoming tournament
FEMA is under the purview of Homeland Security – with the organization distributing funds for major events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup.
Previously, the federal government earmarked $625million for the American host cities ‘to enhance security and preparedness’ as well as $250million ‘to strengthen their ability to detect, identify, track, or mitigate’ drone threats, according to the FEMA website.
With the World Cup rapidly approaching, recent events have led to increased concern from all parties involved.
‘I feel that if we’d been having this conversation two years ago, we’d be in better shape,’ Mike Sena, president of the National Fusion Center Association, testified.
He continued, ‘Today, as we’re approaching these games, we’re nowhere near the capability we need.’
Officials on the ground in these host cities are beginning to run out of time to organize their plans. Ray Martinez, the COO for the Miami World Cup Host Committee, says that if they’re not able to obtain the $70million in federal funding they applied for by the end of March, they will start to cancel plans due to inadequate security.
Martinez says they’d begin with the Fan Fest and then will continue from there.
‘We’re 107 days out from the tournament but, more importantly, we’re about 70-something days out from starting to build the Fan Fest,’ Martinez explained.
Recent cartel violence in Mexico has been cited as a major security concern this World Cup
‘These decisions have to be made…Without receiving this money, it could be catastrophic for our planning and coordination.’
Funding for security operations around the games have been an ongoing issue for the cities hosting the World Cup.
Officials in Foxborough, Massachusetts are in need of nearly $8million and have threatened to pull the seven matches it is scheduled to host at Gillette Stadium if they don’t receive this funding.
There does not seem to be a reasonable end in sight to this partial shutdown ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.
