In less than three months, the United States will welcome the world for the largest sporting event in the history of mankind: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our nation will be hosting 78 matches across 11 U.S. host cities in a 40-day period during America’s 250th birthday. This showcase of American exceptionalism is projected to bring in more than 5 million visitors and produce $30 billion in economic output.

And yet, President Donald Trump’s White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 is being stifled in ensuring the safety and security of the event because a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown is limiting DHS’s ability to prepare for this unprecedented global tournament.

When Congress failed to fund DHS more than a month ago, critical agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were forced to operate with limited resources, unpaid staff and suspend certain operations.

Each of these agencies, as well as all of the 23 components housed within DHS, are vitally important to the White House FIFA Task Force’s whole-of-government approach to protect U.S. citizens and international visitors alike.

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Right now, the DHS shutdown is hampering the department’s ability to prepare for the largest influx of visitors in American history. This shutdown is not merely a matter of bureaucratic inconvenience; it is a direct threat to our national security.

The first kick-off is less than 80 days away. The longer this shutdown continues, the more gaps there may be in our security and operational planning, preparedness, and coordination. Our ability to deliver a safe World Cup suffers every day that Congress refuses to fund us.

As millions of visitors arrive for the World Cup, America’s airports, cities and ports need to be ready. The shutdown is making that nearly impossible.

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TSA will play a vitally important role in making sure soccer fans the world over can move throughout the country free of harm. As of today, nearly 95% of TSA employees are working without pay, and the financial strain is causing callout rates to double nationwide, with more than 450 officers quitting since the shutdown began.

With fewer officers showing up, TSA has had to consolidate or reduce the number of checkpoints at some airports, creating significantly longer lines for all passengers. Each officer must screen more travelers, increasing the risk of missed threats. At John F. Kennedy International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, callout rates have reached 40%. It is even worse at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (55%).

Now imagine that scenario happening during the busiest travel season in American history — where each of those metropolitan areas will be hosting World Cup games this summer.

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In addition, plans for new checkpoint screening technology upgrades at World Cup gateway airports risk being delayed or canceled with a prolonged shutdown. World Cup-specific staffing, canine deployments and coordination with airport and law enforcement partners are all falling victim to travel restrictions, approval delays and canceled training sessions.

TSA’s Federal Air Marshal Service’s efforts to assess vulnerabilities and deploy Counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft system) capabilities at transportation venues are also at risk. Prolonged shutdown delays or cancels planned security assessments, procurement of C-UAS systems and training on new equipment, which directly affect our ability to detect and mitigate drone threats around key transportation hubs.

If Congress does not act, we risk missing threats at our most bustling airports, just as fans from every corner of the globe arrive.

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The majority of DHS training and exercises for first responders and cybersecurity are on hold. limiting our ability to prepare for physical and cyber threats during the World Cup. Furloughs and reduced staffing impacts DHS’s ability to conduct security assessments, compromise our intelligence posture and hinders collaboration with our partners during this critical planning phrase.

The Coast Guard is scheduled to protect America’s harbors and waterways during the World Cup. With nearly 75% of its specialized civilian workforce furloughed and no money for contracts or training, the Coast Guard faces skill gaps and a risk of mission failure. The Coast Guard must mobilize about 1,000 security forces and support personnel for World Cup events, but without funding, they cannot pay for equipment or conduct advanced training.

The longer DHS is forced to operate without funding, the increased likelihood that America’s security and the tournament’s success are at risk. Partisan politics are jeopardizing the safety of our communities and the success of this historic event.

It does not have to be this way. The bottom line is this: Congress must act now. End the shutdown. Restore DHS funding. Give DHS the necessary resources to deliver a safe, secure and unforgettable World Cup. The clock is ticking. The world will be watching. Congress owes it to the American people to ensure that the World Cup kickstarts the beginning of The Golden Age of America in stunning — and safe — fashion.

Perfection is hard to come by – as anyone who has ever filled out a bracket for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournament has come to realize during March Madness season.

But one eighth grader from Pennsylvania is currently defying the odds.

Otto Schellhammer, who is only 14, has the last remaining perfect bracket for the women’s tournament. Stunningly, he’s admitted he knows nothing about basketball.

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“I know people say this a lot about March Madness,” Schellhammer told The Associated Press, “but it was 100% luck. I know basically nothing about any type of basketball.

“I play with my friends,” he added, “but I don’t really watch it.”

Schellhammer has correctly picked the first 48 games in the women’s tournament on ESPN’s Tournament Challenge contest. He is just 15 correct picks away from perfection.

Though there may be perfect brackets in smaller pools across the country, he has the lone one in which the NCAA has tracked. The organization has tracked seven of the largest contests for years, according to Mike Benzie, the senior director of content for NCAA Digital.

The NCAA has tracked 36 million men’s entries and 5.2 million on the women’s side, making Schellhammer one in 41.2 million.

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“I think it’s absolutely hilarious,” said Amy Schellhammer, Otto’s mother. “It’s just so fun to see. It’s exciting. I’m excited he’s into women’s basketball now. He’s been watching and it’s making him more excited about it.”

On the men’s side of the ESPN Tournament Challenge, the hope for a perfect bracket came to an end when Tennessee defeated Virginia in the 44th game of the tournament.

The NCAA found 235 perfect women’s brackets among the major contests going into Monday. The number fell to seven when Virginia beat Iowa in double overtime. When Notre Dame defeated Ohio State, Schellhammer was the last one standing.

“The first game I watched of March Madness was on Monday,” Schellhammer said. “I came home and I was like, ‘I’ll check and see how my women’s bracket is doing.’ Then I watched Virginia beat Iowa, and that was pretty cool. And then I watched Notre Dame.”

Schellhammer said if he had to go back, he may have re-picked his champion team.

But for now, Schellhammer has the Texas Longhorns to win it all.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Thursday that it is adopting a new policy that will ensure only biological females compete in women’s competitions.

The new policy also employs genetic testing to verify the biological sex of competitors in the women’s section.

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“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening,” the new policy states. 

“Evidence‑based and expert‑informed, the policy – applicable for the LA28 Olympic Games onwards – protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category.”

The testing can be conducted via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample. 

The IOC said it came to the decision to implement the policy after consulting with a panel of experts, with the goal of providing equal opportunity for women in sport. 

“The policy was developed on the basis that it is universally accepted that providing for a female category is necessary to allow both males and females equal access to elite sport,” the IOC said in an announcement.

“It was guided by the IOC’s modern goals relating to equality (equal opportunities for female athletes in finals, on podiums and in championships); enhancing Olympic value (featuring both women’s and men’s finals in every sport); and visibility and inspiration (celebrating female athletes on the Olympic podium to inspire and represent women and girls worldwide).”

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IOC President Kristy Coventry suggested that the continued enabling of males in women’s sports is “not safe” in the announcement. 

“As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry said.

“So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

A presentation at a World Athletics panel in Tokyo in September revealed that 50 to 60 athletes with male biological advantages have been finalists in the female category at global and continental championships since 2000.

The panel was led by the head of the World Athletics Health and Science Department, Dr. Stéphane Bermon, who said sex tests were necessary because of an “over-representation” of DSD (differences of sex development) athletes among finalists, per multiple reports.

Last October, the United Nations said nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of the podium because they were beaten by trans athletes.

The findings were compiled by Reem Alsalem, the U.N.’s rapporteur on violence against women and titled “Violence against women and girls in sports.” 

The report said that more than 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 sports, totaling over 890 medals, according to information obtained as of March 30.

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