The U.S. government has yet to deliver the allocated $625 million to local authorities for security at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a situation that a New Jersey congresswoman says comes down to partisan politics.
The Department of Homeland Security planned to distribute the money by Jan. 30, but it has yet to do so, prompting concern about the municipalities hosting World Cup games that they won’t be able to properly prepare for the event.
Rep. Nellie Pou (D., N.J.), who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, told Front Office Sports regarding DHS’ delay in making the payouts, “I don’t have any doubt that they are using that for political reasons.”
She added that the Trump administration’s motives are “100%” political.
Pou represents a district that includes MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where eight matches are scheduled to be contested, including the final on July 19. FIFA, which doesn’t use sponsor names for stadiums, is referring to the venue as “New York New Jersey Stadium.”
Pou added of the head of the DHS, “Secretary (Kristi) Noem is saying she isn’t releasing them because of funding impasse. That is absolutely not true.”
Noem wrote in a statement last week, “FEMA was in the final stages of reviewing applications to ensure proper oversight when Democrats shut down the government putting significant portions of the FEMA staff on administrative leave. No funds have been awarded yet under the FIFA World Cup Grant Program. The longer DHS goes without funding, the less prepared our nation will be for threats at the FIFA World Cup and America 250. This Democrat shutdown directly impacts DHS’s ability to keep Americans safe at these events and our national security.
“Democrats must end this shutdown now and let DHS get back to our mission of protecting the Homeland.”
Other areas have weighed in seeking the release of the money, too.
The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing last week at which Miami host committee COO Raymond Martinez said of his group’s expected $70 million grant, “Within the next 30 days is the drop-dead date. I know that the local agencies are very anxious. But without receiving this money, it could be catastrophic for our planning and coordination.”
Kansas City (Mo.) deputy police chief Joseph Mabin added at the hearing, “The … funding would be critical for our staffing and our mutual aid partners to come in and assist. We just don’t have enough officers within my own department to cover all the threats.”
–Field Level Media
