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White House Unveils $500 Million Plan to Bolster Anti-Drone Security for 2026 World Cup

The initiative channels DHS funding to states with takedown powers still confined to federal agencies.

Overview

  • The funding is open to all 50 states with priority on securing the 104 matches hosted in U.S. stadiums, with application guidance to follow.
  • Officials anticipate local police using handheld detection devices and countermeasures that can jam signals or command drones to return to their launch points.
  • Under current rules only the Justice and Homeland Security departments can neutralize drones, and the administration is exploring a DOJ pathway to grant temporary state and local takedown authority if Congress does not act.
  • A House committee advanced a limited pilot to extend mitigation powers at certain events, yet broader legislation remains stalled despite appeals from more than 30 governors.
  • U.S. planning includes coordination with Canada and Mexico for the co-hosted tournament and dovetails with June executive actions tying airspace security to domestic drone innovation and defense concerns about smuggling, infrastructure targeting and espionage.