Why it Matters

The two-month-old DHS shutdown is creating measurable disruptions to federal preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a senior Homeland Security official told senators Wednesday — offering the most direct public acknowledgment yet that the funding lapse is affecting one of the most complex security operations the U.S. has undertaken.

What Happened

Politico reported that Rear Admiral Christopher Tomney — the federal government's senior coordinating official for the 2026 tournament and Director of the DHS Office of Homeland Security Coordination — testified before a joint Senate subcommittee hearing that the ongoing DHS shutdown has "hindered our coordination with state and locals" and "reduced our planning efforts" ahead of the June 11 tournament kickoff. The article was reported by Politico on April 15, 2026.

Tomney did not mince words in his appeal to Congress: "It's long since time to reopen the Department of Homeland Security."

What Happened

The DHS Shutdown's Origins

The DHS shutdown began on February 14, 2026, when funding for the department lapsed — even as every other federal agency had already received full-year FY2026 appropriations. The shutdown has now stretched past the 60-day mark, driven by a Senate impasse rooted in Democratic objections to ICE and Customs and Border Protection funding following the shooting deaths of two individuals by federal agents.

The Senate passed legislation that would fund all of DHS except ICE and parts of CBP, but no final resolution has been reached. The White House has framed the standoff as "Democrat-caused," issuing a presidential action under that title directing that once regular DHS funding is restored, every effort should be made to continue operations consistent with pre-lapse expenditures.

World Cup Security Preparations at Risk

The 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 11 U.S. host cities, with additional matches in Canada and Mexico. DHS agencies — including TSA and FEMA — are central to the federal security architecture for the event.

Tomney testified that the government shutdown effects on World Cup planning are concrete and cumulative. Hundreds of Transportation Security Officers were forced to work without pay during the shutdown, and many departed. "We just can't replace that expertise overnight," Tomney said. The DHS operations impact, he added, extended to coordination with the state and local law enforcement agencies that will be on the ground at host venues.

On a partial positive note, Tomney confirmed that FEMA has distributed the $625 million earmarked for security needs across host cities — funds that local officials had warned in late February were being blocked by the shutdown. "FEMA GO is up and operational," he said, referring to FEMA's grants management system. Reuters also confirmed that all allocated World Cup security funds have been released.

Senators Leading the Hearing

The hearing was jointly chaired by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), who chairs the DHS Appropriations Subcommittee, and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who chairs the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. Witnesses included officials from the Department of Commerce, DHS, and the FBI.

Britt opened with a direct acknowledgment of the context: "I think it's important to note that this hearing is obviously being held against the backdrop of a shutdown of DHS."

Moran pressed officials on what the federal government is doing to demonstrate that the United States is "open" and "welcoming" to fans from around the world — a pointed line of questioning given broader concerns about how the administration's immigration posture might affect international visitor travel. Moran had previously, in March 2026, sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting an update on security planning for the tournament.

Hill & Administration Take

Administration Actions

President Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing DHS Secretary Mullin and OMB Director Russ Vought to use funds with a "reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to resume pay for TSA officers who had continued working without compensation during the funding lapse.

The administration has also signaled active engagement with the tournament at the highest levels. Trump convened a White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 as far back as November 2025, meeting in the Oval Office alongside then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Andrew Giuliani. The administration has also stated it expects the Iranian national team to travel to the U.S. for the tournament.

DHS signed off on World Cup security funding the day after a Trump-Infantino meeting in March 2026, with funds intended to help host cities cover law enforcement and public safety costs.

A Separate Pressure Point

Beyond the shutdown, the administration faces a related concern: senior FIFA management has discussed asking FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a full moratorium on ICE enforcement operations during the World Cup directly from President Trump, according to reporting by The Athletic. The discussions reflect broader anxieties that immigration enforcement activity could deter international fans from traveling to U.S. host cities.

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