SEATTLE — Seattle remains without key federal funding for equipment vital to major event safety planning, even after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a portion of counterterrorism funds earlier this month.
The city recently joined a lawsuit against DHS over delays in funding through the department’s Securing the Cities (STC) counterterrorism program. City Attorney Ann Davison says the stalled funding is essential for protecting the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Seattle is scheduled to host between four and six World Cup matches, with an estimated 400,000 to 750,000 fans expected to flood the city. In preparation, police and fire departments have been training to detect radioactive threats and other signs of potential terrorist activity. According to the city attorney’s office, the STC program funds both the specialized equipment and personnel required for these efforts.
On June 25, DHS reimbursed the Seattle Police Department approximately $103,757 through the STC program. However, $1.1 million designated for the purchase of radiation detection equipment remains frozen, Davison’s office confirmed.
“We are pleased that, following our entry into the litigation, DHS released the funds for our city’s pending reimbursements — but this is just one part of what Seattle has depended on,” Davison said in a statement. “We need funding restored for critical equipment purchases as well. Next steps are under consideration.”
Without the full release of funds, city officials say no additional safety-related purchases can be made, posing a challenge to ongoing World Cup security preparations.
The STC program, launched in 2007, aims to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks by providing cities with equipment and resources to detect and respond to potential threats.
Seattle is not alone in its legal action. Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the cities of Chicago and Boston, as well as the consolidated city-counties of Denver and San Francisco
