Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - The US Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to invest $115 million in counter-drone technology to secure the FIFA World Cup and events marking 250 years of American independence.
The funding will be managed by a newly created DHS office
focused on the rapid acquisition and deployment of drone and counter-drone
systems. The move reflects growing concern over the security risks posed by
unmanned aerial technology, particularly at high-profile international events.
The investment comes as federal agencies face mounting
pressure to protect major public gatherings while also advancing President
Donald Trump’s broader security and immigration priorities. It also underscores
rising alarm over the technological capabilities of drug cartels, which have
increasingly used drones and cyber tools to smuggle narcotics and monitor US
law enforcement activities.
“Drones represent the
new frontier of American air superiority,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi
Noem said in a statement.
Relatively inexpensive and widely available online, drones
have long been a concern for public safety officials. Last year, a Baltimore
man pleaded guilty after flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during a 2025
NFL playoff game. In 2024, a series of unexplained drone sightings in New
Jersey also sparked public anxiety and prompted lawmakers to call for stronger
federal action.
The United States’ role as a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World
Cup has intensified scrutiny of drone-related threats. Eleven US cities will
host matches, with more than one million international visitors expected to
travel to the country for the tournament.
In a related effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
which operates under DHS, recently awarded $250 million to 11 states hosting
World Cup matches to support the purchase of counter-drone equipment.
Security officials are also increasingly concerned about the
use of drones by drug cartels designated as terrorist groups by the Trump
administration. Experts warn that the potential weaponization of drones could
pose a serious threat.
A Justice Department inspector general’s report released last
year highlighted the dangers of surveillance failures, revealing that a Mexican
drug cartel hired a hacker to track the movements of a senior FBI official in
Mexico City. Information obtained from the city’s camera systems was later used
to identify and kill potential FBI informants.
Federal authorities say the latest investment is aimed at
preventing similar threats and ensuring the safety of major events in the years
ahead.
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