Lawmakers Urge National Guard Role in 2026 World Cup Security Following White House Shooting

A gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on Saturday, prompting fresh security concerns for the 2026 World Cup games in the United States.

The call to deputize troops to respond to drone threats came a day before the gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Two Republican members of Congress, who both sit on the House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security, called on the Trump administration to empower the National Guard to address potential drone-related threats and ensure a unified federal security posture at the upcoming World Cup games.

Potential personnel shortages and complex jurisdictional divides between event organizers and host cities risk creating a fragmented environment, according to the lawmakers. “With its rapid deployability, nationwide scalability, and extensive experience responding to domestic emergencies, the National Guard is uniquely positioned to assist federal and state authorities with C-UAS mitigation and unified coordination for World Cup security,” wrote the lawmakers.

The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A drone view shows Gillette Stadium, which will be called Boston Stadium when it hosts games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The White House said on Monday that the matches will be safe following Saturday’s shooting.

“President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history,” said a White House spokesman in a statement.