The Department of Homeland Security(DHS) is also stepping up security planning in response to key events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 250th anniversary celebration of the United States, with House Committee on Homeland Security creating a bipartisan task force to provide oversight of security preparations and the Chemical Security Analysis Center at the Department of Homeland Security deploying advanced modeling tools to assess chemical threats and vulnerabilities at mass public events.
Bipartisan task force addresses unprecedented security challenges
According to the House Homeland Security Committee, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green and Vice Chairman Michael McCaul announced the creation of the so-called Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States, which will carry out oversight on security preparations in major upcoming international events. The task force will be headed by a Vice Chairman, who is McCaul.
With the U.S. on the verge of hosting major events such as the Olympics and the World Cup, it is mandatory that we ensure that we prepare adequately on security issues so that Americans and millions of international visitors can be able to have a wonderful experience. Although such events give a rare chance to demonstrate the global leadership of the United States, such events can also make it the target of more threats.
Several high-profile events involve a coordinated response
The task force will also be in charge of security of the 2028 Summer Olympics at Los Angeles, the FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, the 2025 Ryder Cup, and the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. The 2026 World Cup will feature more than 70 matches in a total of 11 cities within the United States, with FIFA estimating at least five million fans to travel to this country.
DHS science division creates an advanced assessment of threats
Already, the Chemical Security Analysis Center of the Science and Technology Directorate is researching data, previous event experience, and lessons learned to more effectively inform security approaches into 2026, reports DHS. Chief Scientist of CSAC Rachel Gooding is in charge of a team that detects the threat of chemicals or explosives and determines what resources are required to mitigate the situation in case of a large event.
Gooding said that state and local law enforcement have an awareness that is increasing around these types of threats, other than guns, knives, and explosives. The Fusion Centers have made a lot of outreach to raise awareness of what chemical attacks can do.
CSAC employs various modeling tools to examine the probable effects of various injuries in the event of different scenarios, such as the Chemical Consequence Assessment Tool and Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Such tools offer data on the time and resources required to be responsive, a high-impact position of release, and an assessment of entry screening measures.
A well-developed security framework covers new threats
Green, the chairman of the committee, stressed the need to learn lessons of the past, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, as well as the ISIS threats to the Paris Olympics. Starting with the Boston Marathon bombing and the ISIS threats to the recent Paris Olympics, to the New Year’s Day attack before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Green said that it is of the highest priority that we learn from the past.
The extensive security measures taken by DHS in preparation for major future events show how the federal government intends to guard and protect millions of people in its upcoming events using sophisticated threat assessment systems, bipartisan congressional checks and balances, and multi-agency planning to meet the changing security challenges and ensure a successful delivery of major international events on American soil.