Kristi Noem Says Democrats Are Hindering 'Safe and Successful World Cup' With DHS Funding Blockade

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that Democrats are undermining preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by blocking DHS funding amid a broader dispute over immigration enforcement.

"Our ability to provide for a safe and successful World Cup is being hindered as well," Noem said during the hearing. "More than 100,000 dedicated DHS employees are once again being asked to work without pay for the third time in just five months."

DHS has been unfunded since February 13 after lawmakers failed to pass an appropriations bill. Senate Democrats have said they will not support funding unless the administration agrees to new restrictions on immigration enforcement operations, following the January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Republicans argue the funding lapse jeopardizes national security and special event preparedness.

The funding impasse has affected the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers approximately $625 million in security grants authorized last summer for U.S. host cities preparing for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In late February, Noem said "no funds have been awarded yet" under the grant program and attributed the delay to the partial government shutdown, writing that Democrats had put "significant portions of the FEMA staff on administrative leave."

Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou of New Jersey disputed that characterization, noting that the funding was enacted into law last summer and that DHS had previously listed January 30, 2026, as the anticipated award date. Officials from host cities including Miami and Kansas City have warned that without timely funding, they may have to scale back or cancel events such as fan festivals as planning deadlines approach.

The standoff has continued amid escalating geopolitical tensions, including U.S. strikes on Iran. Senate Democrats reiterated this week that the conflict would not alter their position. "No," Sen. Dick Durbin said on Monday when asked whether the war should change Democrats' approach. "We gave fair warning to the Republicans that we were serious about reining in what the ICE forces are doing."

During Tuesday's hearing, Noem also faced questions about her leadership of DHS and her earlier comments describing the Good and Pretti incidents as "domestic terrorism." She declined to retract those remarks, saying she had relied on "reports from the ground from agents at the scene" and adding that "we always know that there's room for improvement."