This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.
A giant model of the official Trionda pro match ball for the FIFA 2026 World Cup is displayed inside the Adidas store in Manhattan in New York City on Jan. 7, 2026. Mike Segar/Reuters
The Department of Homeland Security opened a new office Monday to hasten the purchase and rollout of drone and counter-drone systems, which officials argue will allow them to reassert control over U.S. skies, per President Donald Trump’s initiatives for more robust national security.
The Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems will steer key investments as drones are increasingly used by criminals, according to the DHS.
The office plans to complete a $115 million deal this week for counter-drone tools for security at America250—the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence—as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be the biggest in the soccer tournament’s history.
“Drones represent the new frontier of American air superiority. Under President Trump, we are entering a new era to defend our air superiority to protect our borders and the interior of the United States,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
“This will help us continue to secure the border and cripple the cartels, protect our infrastructure, and keep Americans safe as they attend festivities and events during a historic year of America’s 250th birthday and FIFA 2026,” she said.
During his first term, Trump signed a 2018 law that let DHS units detect and eliminate drones. Since then, the agency has conducted over 1,500 operations to counter illegal drone use. The new office will focus specifically on hostile drones while researching how drones can defend against ground-based dangers.
DHS under Trump is spending record amounts of money on airspace defense, including soliciting bids from the counter-drone sector for a $1.5 billion contract framework for agencies such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Last month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid out its quickest non-disaster grant ever, giving $250 million for anti-drone tech to the 11 states with World Cup games and the Washington, D.C., area.
These funds, under the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program from a Trump-signed law, will help detect, track, and mitigate drones at mass events, in line with a June executive order on airspace sovereignty.
Drone sightings in late 2024 over New Jersey and New York have made headlines, including runway shutdowns at a New York airport. A Trump adviser suggested the country build an “Iron Dome” shield over the U.S., like Israel’s missile defense. DHS later said the drones were not of foreign origin.
Aviation experts warn that cheap, alterable drones have “democratized terrorism,” underscoring new aviation risks. Top officials have long stated that drones represent national security dangers, pushing for more DHS and Justice Department counter-tech.
The U.S. is exposed to drone attacks akin to Ukraine’s, noting Trump’s June 6 order tackling foreign and criminal drone misuse. Cases include Chinese-made DJI drones smuggling drugs across borders, underscoring vulnerabilities.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for deploying declassified drone-identifying tools, pointing to agency gaps.
Trump’s border emergency declaration included military aid with drone ops within five miles of the border, tying into DHS’s unmanned focus.
Kimberly Hayek is a reporter for The Epoch Times. She covers California news and has worked as an editor and on scene at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2018 migrant caravan crisis.
