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≡ FROM THE “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” ≡
The U.S. Congress completed work Thursday on H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which included a huge funding allocation to support the U.S. hosting aspects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
The funding language was buried deep in the bill, in the section relating to the Department of Homeland Security:
“SEC. 90005. STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE.
“(a) State Homeland Security Grant Programs.
“(1) In general. In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2025, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain available until September 30, 2029, to be administered under the State Homeland Security Grant Program authorized under section 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 605), to enhance State, local, and Tribal security through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other activities:
“(A) $500,000,000 for State and local capabilities to detect, identify, track, or monitor threats from unmanned aircraft systems (as such term is defined in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code), consistent with titles 18 and 49 of the United States Code;
“(B) $625,000,000 for security and other costs related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup;
“(C) $1,000,000,000 for security, planning, and other costs related to the 2028 Olympics; and
“(D) $450,000,000 for the Operation Stonegarden [anti-terrorism] Grant Program.”
The bill is expected to be signed into law on Friday, 4 July, by President Donald Trump.
It is not clear exactly what the World Cup and LA28 Games money can be spent on, but the umbrella is pretty broad, considering it includes “security and other costs” for the American aspects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and “security, planning and other costs” related to the 2028 Games. So:
● Is this the answer to some of the prayers of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for funding related to spectator transportation for 2028?
● Is this just for security planning and execution, meaning it will really be controlled by the U.S. Secret Service, the lead agency on security for the 2028 Games since it was named as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) in 2024?
No one knows, but this is a major development in the Federal funding of the FIFA World Cup and especially the 2028 Games. A U.S. General Accounting Office report in 2000 described prior Olympic spending, which included:
● For Los Angeles 1984, $50 million (in 1984 dollars) was allocated for security support for the Games and $45 was actually appropriated.
● For Atlanta 1996, the Federal government spent about $609 million (in 1999 dollars) on the Games, including $96 million for safety and security measures ($36 million for the Department of Defense). Most of the money was spent on highway and other infrastructure projects; of the $609 million total, just $17 million was spent on spectator transportation.
● For Salt Lake City 2002, Federal spending of $1.254 billion was planned, with $1 billion for highway and transit infrastructure projects already planned, but accelerated. Spending on the Games for security was expected to cost $161 million, plus $77 million on spectator transportation systems.
The $254 million in Games support costs had ballooned to $342 million by the time of a 2001 GAO update (2001 dollars shown at $341 million due to rounding):
● $185 million for Safety and Security
● $106 million for Transportation
● $27 million for Venue Construction
● $19 million for Staging and Operations
● $4 million for Housing and Infrastructure Support
The security cost went up considerably due to added protections after the terrorist incidents of 11 September 2001.
So, the Federal government has significantly stepped up the funding for 2026 and 2028, with the question now of how it will be spent, when, and by who? And what additional spending will be in the Fiscal Year 2027 and 2028 spending bills?
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