Rep. Dale Strong, R-Alabama, chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, led a hearing this week entitled, “Mass Gathering Events: Assessing Security Coordination and Preparedness,” as the U.S. gears up for a historic stretch of major international events.
The hearing assessed how state and local law enforcement and the private sector coordinate with the federal government for mass gathering events.
“By their very nature, mass gathering events draw large crowds in concentrated areas, making them attractive targets for malicious actors. Ensuring their safety requires complex coordination among federal, state, and local authorities – including law enforcement and emergency services. It also requires close collaboration with partners in the sports and entertainment industries,” Strong said.
“The United States is entering an unprecedented period of hosting major international sporting events, including the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2026 World Cup alone will include 78 matches played in 11 U.S. cities, drawing an anticipated 5 million fans from around the globe, and as many as 6 billion viewers watching online. Given these staggering figures, the focus on safety has never been more important,” Strong’s release stated.
The events will test the country’s ability to manage crowds, protect international visitors, and mitigate threats from terrorists and criminals, Strong described. Effective security depends on strong coordination between federal, state, local, and private partners to protect people and infrastructure, prevent attacks and manage crowds.
“I witnessed the scale of these challenges firsthand when I led a congressional delegation to New Orleans to survey security preparations for the Super Bowl following the New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street. That incident, and others like it, serve as stark reminders that terrorist threats persist and underscore our shared responsibility to safeguard such gatherings,” said Strong.
To meet these challenges, Congress and the White House have launched new efforts to strengthen event security. On March 7, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The House Committee on Homeland Security also formed its own bipartisan “Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States,” focused on special events such as the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the United States’ 250th Anniversary. Congressman Strong said he will serve as a member of this task force, which will work in coordination with its counterparts in the White House to ensure the United States demonstrates global leadership in its security practices.
“I applaud Vice Chairman McCaul, who will be chairing the task force, and Chairman Green for their leadership on this issue. I’m honored to have been selected to join the task force,” said Strong.
In advance of these high-profile events, the task force will visit select event sites, hold hearings, host roundtables, and release a final report on their findings as part of the Committee’s oversight of National Special Security Events and major Special Event Assessment Rating events.
