Team USA is preparing to defend its goal against World Cup raiders who are swarming the stadium next month – while Team Fed is urging local authorities to block dozens of potentially dangerous planes from the skies.
The US has allocated $250 million this year to fight “bad and illegal” drone use.
“Drones are a big threat now. I think they’re taking it seriously,” said Rep. Robert Aderholdt (R-Alabama), chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee.
“It’s a big deal. We got all of this in New Jersey,” added Rep. Jeff Van Drew (RN.J.). “It’s a real challenge.”
In June, the FBI opened its new National Counter-UAS Training Center in Huntsville, Ala., where it teaches law enforcement how to identify and track — and “defuse” — drones, an FBI spokesperson told The Post. That includes taking them out of the sky if necessary.
The two-week course has now taught 60 locals from each of the 11 World Cup host countries, including those from New York and New Jersey.
That includes “hands-on training” and “capstone field exercises” to build a “nationally integrated counter-drone force.”
They will be joined by officials from field offices of the FBI and the Secret Service to secure the 39-day tournament action.
The government has been donating millions to protect against the growing threat. Texas recently received an additional $3.2 billion to “reduce unauthorized or potentially dangerous drone activity” and monitor crowds and critical infrastructure for the Dallas-Houston games.
New York and New Jersey are getting $17 million in drone funding to protect MetLife Stadium — home of the July 19 finals that will include performances by Madonna and Shakira — and fan events around the city.
Officials were tight-lipped about revealing which neutral weapons would be used. Commercial companies offer many options, including drone jammers, “directed energy weapons,” technology that allows police to take control of drones, and even defense drones that fire nets to take out enemy drones.
Their eyes turned to the sky after Thomas Michael Crooks flew a drone for 11 minutes in Butler, Pa., before shooting down Donald Trump in 2024.
The identification system used by the Secret Service was not working at the time, and the agent testified that they received only about 30 minutes of initial training, according to a December 2024 House panel report on the assassination attempt.
Drones have also transformed the battlefield in Iran and Ukraine, allowing Iran – which has feared “sleeper cells” abroad – to target US allies in the Gulf.
“There is good counter drone technology that they have that we have to make sure is bought,” said House Homeland Security Rep. Anthony Garbarino.
