Oversight hearings to examine the Federal Government's border management and personnel readiness efforts for the decade of sports.

Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management

2025-06-10

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The Border Management Federal Workforce and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee convened to discuss America's preparedness for upcoming global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the nation's 250th birthday celebration[ 00:19:50-00:20:35 ] . The discussion centered on critical issues such as personnel readiness, border management, and ensuring seamless travel and robust security for tens of thousands of international spectators, athletes, and officials[ 00:20:05-00:20:26 ] . Witnesses provided insights into potential threats and necessary technological and collaborative efforts to safeguard these high-profile events[ 00:29:43-00:29:44 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Themes

Challenges in Visa Processing and Travel Efficiency

Significant concerns were raised about visa wait times, with Colombian nationals facing an 18-month wait, meaning many will be unable to attend the World Cup next year. Similar issues affect nationals from Costa Rica and Ecuador. The need for modernizing travel infrastructure and streamlining processes was emphasized to ensure the United States remains a leader in travel while maintaining high security standards[ 00:40:20-00:40:26 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. Recommendations included accelerating the adoption of biometric technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for baggage screening and passenger processing to reduce wait times and enhance security. Despite a mandate from DHS's creation to implement entry-exit verification, this capability is still lacking, a gap that could be closed with proven biometric technologies.

Security Threats and Counter-Terrorism Efforts

The events are considered highly visible and symbolic targets for those who wish to cause harm, necessitating thorough preparation to prevent attacks. Historical examples such as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing underscore these risks, alongside recent thwarted terrorist attacks during the Paris Olympic Games. Terrorist tactics are evolving, with malevolent innovations like improved improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the use of drones for surveillance and delivery of explosive devices[ 00:30:47-00:32:04 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. There are also growing concerns about drones being used to release illicit substances like fentanyl. The diversity of threat actors, from jihadist violent extremists to nihilistic online networks and state-sponsored groups like Iran, presents a complex security landscape[ 00:32:51-00:33:10 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate and Intelligence and Analysis capabilities are deemed crucial for disrupting potential attacks and assessing threats[ 00:33:14-00:34:32 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Coordination and Preparedness

Hosting large-scale events demands extensive planning, resources, and coordination among organizers, state and local governments, private industry, and security partners[ 00:22:36-00:22:49 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
. The LA28 Olympics has been designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE), with the Secret Service leading the interagency planning process. A critical need highlighted is 100% federal cost reimbursement for public safety staffing and materials provided by state and local law enforcement, fire, and emergency services. The importance of consistent intelligence sharing, cooperation, trust, and relationship-building across all levels of government was emphasized for effective security planning. Concerns were raised regarding local leadership's ability to maintain law and order, specifically in Los Angeles, which could impact the events. Expediting TSA and CBP staffing and technological upgrades are also seen as vital to handle the increased visitor volumes efficiently. Academia plays a role in modeling potential attack scenarios and planning for cascading effects and effective evacuations.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a serious and focused tone, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring security and operational readiness for the upcoming global events. While there was a strong emphasis on collaboration and coordination among federal, state, and local entities, underlying concerns about preparedness gaps, particularly regarding visa processing times and counter-drone capabilities, were evident. A brief but pointed exchange highlighted skepticism about local leadership's capacity to maintain law and order in Los Angeles, though the LA28 CEO expressed confidence in existing coordination efforts. Overall, there was a clear sense of urgency to address identified vulnerabilities and implement necessary improvements before the events take place[ 00:40:33 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
.

Participants

Transcript

Good morning, everybody.  I am very pleased to be able to gavel in the first year in the Border Management Federal Workforce and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee today.  Since January the 20th, we've seen significant development and improvement on the border security and development in the federal workforce.  I'm eager to dive into a lot of those issues.   But today's issue, we want to focus on America's readiness for the upcoming global events, specifically on personnel readiness and the paramount importance of managing the border.  As tens of thousands of spectators, athletes, coaches, government leaders come in from around the world for the Los Angeles Olympics, for World Cup, for the 250th birthday of the United States.  We have a lot that's coming up in the next several years for us.   Under the Trump administration, President Trump took an active role in bidding for and winning the chance to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics.  The United States is also hosting the 2025 FIFA World Cup, for which begins later on this week, and it's looking like the U.S.  could also host the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup.  The 2028 LA Olympics will also be holding two events in Oklahoma City as they wisely chose Oklahoma for softball games.   and for canoeing and kayaking slalom.  The federal government has promised to provide significant investment in security, visa processing, and multiple other aspects that go into these large global events.  The FIFA World Cup will also coincide with America's 250th birthday, with a match being played on July the 4th, 2026 in Philadelphia.   Our government must be on the ball and will be ready to be able to secure the nation and ensure seamless travel for all of our welcome guests from around the world.  However, when this committee spoke with DHS last year, I was very concerned the administration had not fully prepared for these events yet and the format was not laid out sufficiently to make that a seamless event.  For example,   Visa wait times for Colombian nationals are at 18 months.
That means Colombian nationals who wanna come and support their team at the World Cup next year will have already needed to have applied for their visa or they will not get to come and watch their team.  If a Colombian national applied today, they would receive their visa after the World Cup has concluded.  If Costa Rica or Ecuador qualifies, their nationals are in a similar boat.   The next available visa appointment in Costa Rica will occur during the 2026 World Cup, and the visa processing time for Ecuadorian nationals means that an applicant today will receive their visa after the World Cup ends.  That's clearly a problem for their fans.  Customs and Border Protection, State Department, Federal Protective Service, Secret Service, DHS headquarters, and many other elements in the federal government have told my staff that they're aware of the visibility and prominence of these events on the world stage.   but they hold grave concerns about what it will take to also process the visas and to secure these events.  In 1996, we saw the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics.  In 2013, we saw a bombing at the Boston Marathon.  Just last year, French authorities thwarted three attempted terrorist attacks during the Paris Olympic Games.  These events are highly visible.  They're symbolic targets for those who want to do our nation harm, and we have to be prepared to stop attacks before they happen.   In addition to what we would think of as more traditional terrorist threats, we're also now seeing the proliferation of drones and illicit drone flights around major sporting events, including the NBA finals happening in Oklahoma City just this last weekend.  Last year, a Baltimore Ravens game was disrupted by an illicit drone flight in the Middle East, Eastern Europe,   And in Mexico, drones are increasingly carrying explosive devices and other payloads that could cause significant harm to athletes and spectators during these events.  The last time our country hosted events of this magnitude occurred in Salt Lake City in 2002, before the U.S.  Department of Homeland Security even existed.
So...   While I'm confident there has been a lot of preparation for this task and for all these guests coming from around the world, I am concerned that we are getting a late start.  Happy to see that President Trump has announced a World Cup task force that's being led by the Department of Homeland Security.  This effort takes these events even more seriously and will focus on what it takes to be able to bring benefits to our country.  Our witnesses are here today.  They've been specifically invited to be able to talk about some of the things and the concerns that they have.   and also things that we just need to be able to pay attention to in the days ahead.  And I look forward to their testimony and introducing them in a moment.  With that, I would welcome ranking members, Senator Fetterman, for an opening statement.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I could not agree more with what you've just said.  And thank you for all the witnesses.  Thank you for joining us here today.  And I'm pleased to be the ranking member of this subcommittee, and I am absolutely looking forward to, with Chairman Lankford, to solve these issues that we're facing in the United States.  It's a great opportunity.   great honor for the United States to host premier international sporting events like the FIFA World Cup in 2028, the Olympics in Los Angeles, not to mention celebrating America's the big 250 birthday and hosting the MLB All-Star Game in Philly next summer.

Sign up for free to see the full transcript

Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.

Sign up