Congresswoman Pou Demands Answers on World Cup Security Funding

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), the top Democrat on the House panel overseeing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, today demanded answerson directives issued by the Trump Administration which create opaque and possibly illegal processes that invite waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption regarding security funding for next summer's games.

Since May, Pou has been the lead Democratic member of the House Homeland Security Committee Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. The Task Force has oversight responsibilities for large-scale international events hosted in the United States, including the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

"While safeguarding the World Cup is a shared national priority, this NOFO grants the Secretary of Homeland Security extraordinary and unconstrained control over the distribution of this $625 million in Federal funds. This raises major questions about transparency, governance, and political neutrality," writes Congresswoman Pou to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the acting head of FEMA. "American taxpayers deserve a funding process grounded in transparency and data-driven risk assessment-not politically motivated decision-making."

A member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Congresswoman Pou's district will host several World Cup games next summer, including the final match.

Over the past year, Trump's Department of Homeland Security has exhibited a troubling pattern of politicization in its management of FEMA's preparedness grant programs, including Strategic Highway Safety Plan and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). UASI funding for New York City and New Jersey was reduced by a staggering $147 million - an 85% decrease - with no detailed explanation. Last month, Pou led 11 membersof New Jersey's congressional delegation demanding that UASI and other security funding for New Jersey be restored.

In September, Pou welcomed congressmembers, law enforcement, and other leaders to New Jersey's Ninth District to tour MetLife Stadium and review security preparations for next summer. In February, Committee members traveled to New Orleans to see the preparation for the Super Bowl. In June, the Task Force conducted a site visit to Audi Field, a location for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The panel's inaugural hearing analyzed the tragedies at the Boston Marathon, Kansas City, and Bourbon Street.

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Pou offered an amendment to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee portion of the Trump budget that would provide a fresh stream of funding to help for the planning of transportation options to and from the 2026 World Cup and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, it was blocked by House Republicans.

The text of Congresswoman Pou's letteron World Cup funding oversight is below.

Dear Secretary Noem and Mr. Richardson:

I write to express serious concern regarding the FIFA World Cup Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) recently issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Congress appropriated funds for the 11 U.S. cities that will host World Cup matches in 2026, an event expected to be the largest sporting event in history. These funds are intended to help ensure the safety of millions of attendees. While safeguarding the World Cup is a shared national priority, this NOFO grants the Secretary of Homeland Security extraordinary and unconstrained control over the distribution of this $625 million in Federal funds. This raises major questions about transparency, governance, and political neutrality.

According to the NOFO, the Secretary has sole discretion over the amount of funding to be awarded to World Cup host cities. The NOFO states that no formal scoring or review process will be used. Instead, decisions will be based on unidentified "qualitative criteria," leaving the cities and public without an objective, auditable record of how funding choices were made. This structure invites corruption. By law, FEMA's State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds must be distributed according to a clear, risk-based formula-not the personal discretion of any political appointee.

Over the past year, DHS has exhibited a troubling pattern of politicization in its management of FEMA's preparedness grant programs, including SHSP and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). UASI funding for New York City and New Jersey was reduced by a staggering $147 million - an 85% decrease - with no detailed explanation. When funding decisions are made to reward or punish jurisdictions based on partisan political considerations it erodes public trust and directly jeopardizes public safety.

I also have concerns that the framework DHS and FEMA created weakens safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse. FEMA plans to direct this funding to "Host City Committee Task Forces"-an opaque entity lacking any statutory basis. The NOFO is unclear as to whether State Administrative Agencies will receive funds for Management and Administration (M&A). M&A funds enable states to perform audits and financial monitoring over taxpayer dollars, undermining evaluations of risk and monitoring compliance.

Furthermore, FEMA is claiming that the shutdown rendered the agency "unable" to post the NOFO publicly to Grants.gov. That claim is inaccurate. Grants.gov remained operational, and the World Cup Program funds derive from appropriations not tied to fiscal year 2025 annual funding, meaning they are not subject to shutdown restrictions regardless. Withholding or delaying the public posting of this major funding announcement undermines transparency.

Lastly, the NOFO contains two conflicting application deadlines. This suggests a lack of internal coordination. Such basic errors erode confidence in the Agency's ability to manage the program responsibly.

Accordingly, I urge DHS and FEMA to:

1. Clarify the deadline by which State Administrative Agencies must submit application materials to FEMA;

2. Establish a transparent review process for determining the amount of World Cup funds that will be awarded to each host city, including scoring or evaluation standards;

3. Commit publicly that World Cup funding will be allocated strictly based on security considerations and not on political calculations;

4. Define "Host City Committee Task Force," including its legal status, composition, and fiscal-oversight responsibilities;

5. Clarify whether M&A funding will be provided to State Administrative Agencies so they can perform oversight, monitoring, and compliance functions to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

My district will host some of the most visible matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the final championship game. Our state and local public safety agencies have proven records of securing major events in partnership with Federal counterparts. American taxpayers deserve a funding process grounded in transparency and data-driven risk assessment-not politically motivated decision-making.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these concerns. I look forward to your timely response detailing how DHS and FEMA intend to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of this critical grant program.

Sincerely,

Nellie Pou

Member of Congress

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