DHS Commits $500 Million Counter-Drone Push Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The US Department of Homeland Security is deploying a $500 million counter-drone grant program across two fiscal years, with half already allocated to states hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the scale of the federal effort on Monday at the Second Annual Countering the Threat: Drone Security Industry and SLTT Grant Forum, held at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The White House Task Force (WHTF) on the 2028 Summer Olympics hosted the event, with DRONERESPONDERS and the Commercial Drone Alliance as co-hosts. Federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and industry leaders attended to discuss counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) — the technologies and legal authorities used to detect and defeat unauthorized drones — ahead of the Los Angeles Games.

"Homeland security includes our skies. Unauthorized drones are a serious and growing threat to public safety, critical infrastructure, and national security," Mullin said.

What does the funding change for states and cities?

The Counter-UAS Grant Program provides $500 million over two fiscal years. In Fiscal Year 2026, DHS awarded the first $250 million to the 11 states hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and to the National Capital Region. The remaining $250 million becomes available in Fiscal Year 2027 to all 56 states and territories.

DHS framed the second tranche as a shift from event-specific security to durable capability. The department said the FY2027 funds will focus on building lasting nationwide detection and response infrastructure rather than covering single occasions.

For airport operators, stadium authorities and local police departments, the practical consequence is a two-year window in which federal money can finance drone-detection equipment, training and response coordination that most municipal budgets would not otherwise support.

From World Cup rehearsal to Olympics deployment

DHS and its partners are building on lessons from FIFA World Cup 2026 planning to strengthen drone detection, identification, tracking and response capabilities before the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Forum discussions addressed emerging drone threats, protection of critical infrastructure, and security planning for large-scale events.

Mullin said the department's ambition extends beyond the Games themselves.

"DHS is bringing together federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and industry partners around training, technology, information sharing, and lawful response authorities. Our focus is not just one event – it is building a lasting capability that can keep pace with an evolving threat," he said.

The reference to lawful response authorities points to a persistent constraint in US counter-drone work: federal statutes restrict which agencies may intercept or disable aircraft, including unmanned ones, leaving state and local responders with detection responsibilities but limited legal authority to act.

Who is leading the federal effort

Mullin was joined at the forum by two senior figures from the White House Task Force: Nicholas Forni, Deputy Executive Director, and Dr. Michelle Nordman, Senior Advisor. DHS Under Secretary for Management Brian Cavanaugh and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton also delivered remarks.

The presence of FEMA leadership signals that grant distribution and emergency-management coordination sit at the center of the program, not only aviation-security policy. Attendees received detailed briefings on how to access the Counter-UAS Grant Program.

The road to 2028

With the World Cup allocation already flowing and the remaining $250 million open to every state and territory in FY2027, DHS has set a timeline that runs through the Olympic year. The test of the program will be whether the capability purchased for the World Cup and the Games persists as permanent national drone-security infrastructure after the closing ceremonies.