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White House Urges Reopening Of Homeland Security As World Cup Approaches
Officials at the White House have warned that reopening the Department of Homeland Security is “essential” ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, following a recent attempted attack on Donald Trump.
The concerns come after a man, identified by prosecutors as Cole Tomas Allen, was charged with attempting to assassinate the president during a gala event in Washington, DC. According to court filings, the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun and multiple knives when he forced his way past a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, described the episode as a “sobering reminder” of the threats facing the country.
He said while the swift response of law enforcement and Secret Service agents prevented casualties, the situation highlighted the urgent need for a fully functioning Department of Homeland Security. “As we prepare for the unprecedented scale of the World Cup, reopening DHS is essential,” Giuliani said.
The department has been partially shut down for more than nine weeks due to a funding dispute in Congress. The dispute is because Democrats have opposed funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – which comes under the DHS – unless there are reforms, after two deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis in January.
Officials have already warned that the shutdown is affecting planning and coordination between federal and local authorities, raising concerns about readiness for the tournament, which is expected to draw millions of visitors.
Political pressure is mounting to resolve the impasse. President Trump has urged lawmakers to reach an agreement by early June, while Republican Congressman Mike Lawler described the situation as “insane,” noting the risks associated with hosting a global event in a high-profile target area.
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