Lawmakers express concerns about World Cup prep amid ongoing DHS shutdown

At a Senate hearing on the upcoming World Cup, lawmakers raised concerns about how travel, tourism and safety preparations are going.

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The partial government shutdown is creating problems for this summer’s World Cup. That’s what a federal official told lawmakers at a congressional hearing on Wednesday. NPR’s Juliana Kim reports.

JULIANA KIM, BYLINE: During a Senate subcommittee hearing on World Cup preparations, one topic continued to come up.

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KATIE BRITT: I think it’s important to note that this hearing is obviously being held against the backdrop of a shutdown of DHS.

KIM: That’s Katie Britt, a Republican senator from Alabama. She’s referring to the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that started two months ago. DHS oversees agencies like TSA and FEMA. Both play a role in making sure the World Cup games run smoothly and safely across the 11 U.S. cities hosting between June 11 and July 19.

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CHRISTOPHER TOMNEY: It’s long since time to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. We have been shut down more days than we’ve been open this fiscal year.

KIM: Christopher Tomney is a DHS official involved with World Cup preparations. He said that during the shutdown, TSA lost hundreds of airport screeners who were forced to work without pay. A few weeks ago, President Trump signed a memo to start paying TSA agents. Still, Tomney said it’ll take time to make up for the staff turnover.

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TOMNEY: We just can’t replace that expertise overnight. It has hindered our coordination with state and locals. It has reduced our planning efforts.

KIM: As far as FEMA funds, in late February, local officials told Congress that because of the shutdown, host cities couldn’t access the $625 million earmarked for their security needs. They warned that fan events would need to be canceled or scaled back if funds weren’t released soon. Those funds have since been distributed, according to Tomney. It’s unclear whether the delay will have an impact on any upcoming events. FIFA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the possible impact of the DHS shutdown on the World Cup.

Juliana Kim, NPR News.

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