White House urges immediate DHS reopening ahead of 2026 World Cup following security review
The administration cites the attempted assassination of President Trump at a Washington DC gala as proof that a fully operational Department of Homeland Security is essential for the upcoming event.
White House officials preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have formally called for the immediate reopening of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This urgent request comes in the wake of an attempted assassination of US President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington DC, where the gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, issued a statement describing the recent shooting as a sobering reminder of unpredictable threats. He emphasised that the chaos underscored the critical need for a fully operational DHS, noting that the swift response by law enforcement and Secret Service agents saved lives but that the incident highlighted the stakes involved in ensuring security readiness for the tournament.
The call to action follows a partial shutdown of the DHS that has persisted for over nine weeks due to a funding dispute between Democrats and Republicans regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officials warn that this political impasse has significantly hampered security coordination for the upcoming tournament, which will host millions of visitors across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Republican congressman Mike Lawler of New York highlighted the absurdity of the situation, noting that the department responsible for coordinating security for an international event in a high-terrorism-risk area has been shut down for over 110 days. Lawler stated it is insane to have the department responsible for coordinating the security of this event closed while the nation is at war, pointing out the location of the event is the area most targeted for terrorism.
The dispute stems from Democratic opposition to funding ICE unless specific reforms are implemented, citing two deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis in January. Prior to the shooting, officials had already warned that the shutdown was impacting preparations and hampering coordination between local and federal agencies for the World Cup.
Federal investigators have confirmed that Allen intended to assassinate President Trump and several top officials. The incident has sparked a White House security review, with Trump urging Republicans in Congress to agree on legislation by the start of June to resolve the funding impasse. The 48-team World Cup is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July.
