Two Republican members of US Congress have urged the Trump administration to mobilise the National Guard to counter potential drone threats and establish a “unified federal security posture” for the upcoming World Cup.
In a formal letter sent on Friday, US Representatives Michael McCaul and Elijah Crane – both members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security – called for swift interagency cooperation to protect the airspace across the 11 US cities scheduled to host matches.
The appeal was directed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, reports Reuters.
The congressmen highlighted that the event’s security could become “fragmented” due to possible personnel deficits and the complex division of authority between host cities and organisers. They argued that a cohesive federal strategy is essential to mitigate these risks.
According to the lawmakers, the National Guard is “uniquely positioned” to support state and federal authorities with Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) mitigation and general coordination.
They cited the Guard’s “rapid deployability, nationwide scalability, and extensive experience” in domestic emergency response as vital assets for the tournament’s safety.
This request for military assistance with drone defence was made just one day before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, an event that has sparked fresh concerns regarding the security of the global football tournament.
While the Department of Justice, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet offered comments, the White House issued an assurance on Monday regarding the safety of the games.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that President Trump remains “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.”
