Crane Reiterates Drone Threat as Mass Gathering Events in US Loom

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) reiterated the threat posed by drones at mass gathering events, such as the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in the United States, as the threat grows closer, during a recent hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Rep. Crane began by saying the hearing witnesses have dealt with threats at mass gathering events such as drones, cyberattacks, shooters, vehicle rammings, and explosions, "but the one thing that is keeping me up at night is the one that we keep talking about here, and that is as warfare continues to evolve, the drone threat— and I just do not think that we are ready. I have sat in on a bunch of these hearings. I have had classified hearings with some of our federal agencies, and what I can tell you is that we are not ready."

He then turned to Louisiana Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges, asking if the provisions found in the June 2025 "We Will" Act, signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), which authorizes state law enforcement to intercept hostile drones, had been put into use.

Col. Hodges said that counter-drone activity has not yet occurred, prompting Rep Crane to ask, "Have you guys had any pushback from the federal agencies who typically control the airspace and authorities with this state-passed legislation?"

The Colonel replied, saying that "they have been very supportive, and we have a great working relationship with the federal partners, and I think that is why we were successful over the last several months."

The Arizona Congressman asked Kansas City, Missouri Police Chief Stacey Graves and Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz if their states were considering similar legislation; both women answered that they would recommend it to their respective state legislatures.

"One of the recommendations that I have made up here is that, with FIFA and every sporting event that we can, we try and make sure it happens in a dome," Crane continued, reiterating a previous point from a hearing earlier in July.

Colonel Hodges pointed out that while a dome would prevent attacks inside the stadium, "the watch parties and other outdoor events that coincide sometimes bring up a larger crowd, sometimes than what is inside the stadium or dome. So the drone is still a challenge, even though the game itself was indoor."