Latest news with #DarinLaHood
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
World Cup 2026 Q&A: Soccer-loving congressman on ticket prices, visas, USMNT
Just under one year out from the first men's World Cup to be held in the United States since 1994, there is no shortage of challenges for the organizers of the competition and the U.S. government as they prepare to share the tournament with Canada and Mexico next summer. The build-up to the world's most popular sporting event has already been overshadowed, at times, by trade wars between the U.S. and other countries, tensions over President Donald Trump administration's policies towards immigration and lengthy visa wait times for foreign visitors who may wish to attend the tournament. There have also been tensions with co-hosts Canada and Mexico, with the start of Trump's second term dominated by tariffs and his suggestions that Canada should become part of the U.S. He also renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Advertisement U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood, a Republican who serves the constituents of the 16th District of Illinois, is one of the keenest advocates of soccer within U.S. politics, co-chairing the bipartisan congressional soccer caucus. He has also been present at events organized by the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is dedicated to leading and coordinating federal efforts in support of the event. He has recently called for Trump to enact an executive order to protect the American skies from the threat of drones during the World Cup, and he spoke to The Athletic about: Below are his answers, lightly edited for length and clarity. This interview took place prior to the U.S. airstrikes on Iran – a nation that has already qualified for the World Cup. The Athletic: One year out from the World Cup, what are the political priorities for you between now and the tournament? Rep. LaHood: From a practical standpoint, I view this through the lens of what the government needs to do and what we need to do to make this a successful World Cup. To create the (White House World Cup) task force was a monumental step. This put staff in place that understand the ramifications of what needs to get done; people who are attentive at the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, Department of Justice and at the FBI. We now have people engaged. They know there are asks that need to be fulfilled. A lot of work still needs to be done on the processing of visas, as well as on the security apparatus, and particularly on drones. Then we have the logistics of getting people here and coordinating with Mexico, Canada and the 11 U.S. host cities. World Cup organizer FIFA claims the combined impact of the Club World Cup and World Cup will be $47 billion to the U.S. economy, but this is surely very dependent on foreign travel. Are you at all concerned that perceptions of the United States at the moment may dissuade people from coming to the country? Of course, I'm concerned. I just saw some data that showed tourism from Canada to the United States is down 40 percent. We've seen in a number of tourist destinations in the United States this year that tourism is down: in Las Vegas, New York and Florida. We're aware of where some of that comes from because of some of the immigration policies and other things. However, I wouldn't rush to judgment that it is going to affect the World Cup. Soccer and sport transcend in many ways politics and geopolitics. There's plenty of opportunity to roll out a good PR welcoming message from the United States, and there will be people in the administration who will be engaged. Advertisement There are a number of people that FIFA and the White House want to engage with: partnering with footballers from Europe, Africa or South America. There is a plan in place to make sure that we are welcoming and that we attract people from all over the world, so we are sending the right message, particularly for the World Cup. The White House recognizes that we have to get it right with the World Cup in 2026, because there's a legacy of events that are going to occur in the United States: the Olympics in 2028, the Women's World Cup in 2031, the Winter Olympics in 2034, the Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033. It's important to set the precedent here by getting it right. The president has said this will have a $40 billion economic impact on the U.S. But that is contingent on having visitors who want to come here, enjoy the United States, spend their money and watch a world-class sporting event. Andrew Giuliani, son of Trump's former lawyer and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, is leading the White House's Task Force. Do you think he was the best person for that job? Andrew Giuliani is the executive director but he's also co-equals with Carlos Cordeiro, who is with FIFA (Cordeiro is a senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a former U.S. Soccer president). That combination is positive moving forward. Andrew has enthusiastically embraced the job. He's brought a lot of energy. He's been very attentive to the issues that have been raised. He's put together a good team around him. He asks all the important questions. He understands the enormity of the job and what it entails. So far, he's doing everything that he's been asked to do. He has the ear of the president. He understands the whole of government approach that this is going to take to get implemented. There are learning aspects of this job, but so far he's tackling those head-on. FIFA has adopted a dynamic pricing model for the Club World Cup. From a Congressional Soccer Caucus perspective, as someone trying to grow this sport, are you at all worried that ordinary people might be priced out of the World Cup? Well, I hope not. We'll see what happens next year when the pricing comes out for the World Cup. Do you think FIFA should give something back to local communities by ringfencing some ticketing to make it accessible? There's a lot of discretion there and a lot of flexibility with how they want to handle that. There's going to be a real emphasis on youth soccer, young people and getting them engaged with the fan zones. Advertisement Does that mean everybody's going to get into a stadium to watch a game? Maybe not, but my own experience from being at the World Cup or Euros (European Championships) is that these fan zones with big TVs outside of the stadium are very enjoyable for fans to partake in. If we do it the right way, we are going to enhance the game tremendously and continue to grow the game here. We can't lose sight of that from a congressional soccer standpoint. We're keenly aware of that. If and when we need to push FIFA in a particular direction, we're prepared to do that. Before the Club World Cup, the CBP in Florida was posting on Facebook about how it was going to be 'suited and booted' to support FIFA during the first round of games. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) subsequently confirmed they may attend games. Are you concerned about the message that sends? I'm not concerned about that, I've been in touch with FIFA people. Some of that is more of a reflection on some of the protests we've seen in Los Angeles and related to that spillover. I don't think it has anything to do with people wanting to check the immigration status of people coming in. That's not something that's been on my radar screen. Visa wait times have improved considerably over the past year. But there have now been cuts made to the State Department, so is there a concern they may lengthen again? Colombia was at 700 days and they've been reduced to 400 days. It's coming down. I think seeing the progress being made there, that's going to be replicated in other areas where it needs to get done. I'm not concerned about cuts in the State Department… There's not going to be cuts on the folks that are going to make the World Cup a success. We have to have people who feel comfortable and can come here under the visa regime that we have in place and have proper security protocols in place. So my sense is there's going to be adequate and appropriate funding through the State Department to effectuate that. Focusing on the soccer, is the USMNT going to hit form? And what have you made of some players electing not to go to the Gold Cup this summer, as well as Mauricio Pochettino's first few months in charge? Well, to be honest with you, I almost wish we had to qualify for the World Cup because that level of competition would have been better. On paper, I like our new coach. He brings a lot to the table, but there seems to be a lackadaisical approach with our players. These were two friendlies and I shouldn't put much stock into friendlies, but people are getting worried. There's a nervousness about the current team and the level of commitment. But right now, it's not there.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
President Trump urged to protect 2026 World Cup host cities from threat of drones
Representative Darin LaHood, who co-chairs the Congressional Soccer Caucus, has urged President Donald Trump to enact an executive order to protect the American skies from the threat of drones during the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Congressman LaHood, who has served as a U.S. representative from Illinois for almost ten years, has been pressing the administration on several issues relating to the operations, logistics and security of the World Cup. Rep. LaHood is a Republican but the Soccer Caucus is a bipartisan initiative aimed at promoting the interests of soccer within the United States. They have lobbied the White House to sign off on a $625m federal funding request to assist security needs during the World Cup, which is edging closer, but he also believes a change to the law is required, which would best enable suspect drones to be taken out in the host cities. Advertisement LaHood also serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the nation's intelligence agencies. President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' includes $500 million to be made available until 2029 for 'state and local capabilities to detect, identify, track or monitor threats from unmanned aircraft systems (otherwise known as drones).' The act must still pass through the U.S. Senate but is expected to do so. Trump has also signed a series of executive orders relating to drones in recent weeks, both aimed at increasing U.S. manufacturing of drones but also greater counter-drone capabilities. A White House fact sheet claimed that drones 'pose a growing threat as criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors increasingly weaponize these technologies to endanger public safety and national security.' A bipartisan coalition has been working within Congress to alter the law. Currently, only federal authorities are permitted to counter rogue drones but state and local authorities are often more heavily involved in securing events at stadiums or mass gatherings. The DEFENSE Act (Disabling Enemy Flight Entry and Neutralizing Suspect Equipment Act) would change this by granting temporary authority to state and local officers who have received appropriate training to use counter-drone technology and respond to threats. The proposed act has the backing of the NFL, MLB, NCAA and NASCAR. Rep. LaHood, however, believes an executive order may be necessary to ensure those securing World Cup games and fan festivals have the requisite training and powers ahead of the World Cup, which starts in June 2026. An executive order, he says, would establish a protocol to protect World Cup stadiums, with collaboration between the U.S. Military, the federal national security agencies and state and local law enforcement. 'I was up at MetLife with the (White House FIFA World Cup) Task Force recently,' Rep. La Hood told The Athletic. 'We met with the head of security for FIFA and we did a drone demonstration. We had all of the security apparatus there. We talked a lot about an executive order that will be needed because I'm not optimistic we'll pass legislation to establish the right protocols for what we need with drones for the 11 cities. Advertisement 'I'll try to simplify it as much as I can. If a drone flew over Russia at the World Cup in 2018, or Qatar (in 2022), it immediately gets shot down. No questions about it. It's gone. There were mechanisms in place to do that. In the U.S., we have not regulated drones, there's (even) been a purposeful effort in Congress to let the drone industry prosper and thrive in the free market system. 'There is legislation introduced by Senator Tom Cotton that would establish a protocol and this would be helpful for regulating drones. But I don't anticipate that's going to get the consensus of Congress between now and then. 'As you might imagine, there's liability issues here, there's contractual issues, there's timing issues. For example, how far is the aperture of the zone around the 11 host cities? MetLife is close to Newark airport (around 12 miles away) – how do you do that? It's not as easy as it sounds but there will be one particular agency designated to secure the perimeter and make sure no drones are infiltrating the area where games are being played.' Michael Evanoff is the global chief security officer of the U.S. security technology company Verkada and former Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security. He told The Athletic: 'Drone activity is at the highest it's ever been. Wars going forward will always have drones. It's a delivery system to hurt and kill. The Super Bowl has a no-fly zone for drones. So there's counter-drone technology that is in place that basically keeps the environment from being utilised by drones. 'How would they know if drones are in the air? There's a signature given down, which comes to a central point for the authorities who then say, 'Hey, we have a drone in the air. It's not one of our drones, we need to take it out.' When I say take it out, they use the environment to seize it. I've seen counter-drones that use nets. Advertisement 'So a bigger drone comes on with a net around the other encircling drone. The weighted net brings it down obviously over a nice area where you're not hitting cars and people, but there are counter technologies for that. It is normal that we do have a no-fly for the Super Bowl. Open-air stadiums will definitely not want to have a drone in their area.' The White House was approached for comment.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House bipartisan bill directs NSA to create 'AI security playbook' amid Chinese tech race
FIRST ON FOX – Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., is introducing a new bill Thursday imploring the National Security Administration (NSA) to develop an "AI security playbook" to stay ahead of threats from China and other foreign adversaries. The bill, dubbed the "Advanced AI Security Readiness Act," directs the NSA's Artificial Intelligence Security Center to develop an "AI Security Playbook to address vulnerabilities, threat detection, cyber and physical security strategies, and contingency plans for highly sensitive AI systems." It is co-sponsored by House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. LaHood, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Select Committee on China, told Fox News Digital that the legislative proposal, if passed, would be the first time Congress codifies a "multi-prong approach to ensure that the U.S. remains ahead in the advanced technology race against the CCP." The new bill follows another bipartisan legislative proposal, the "Chip Security Act," which he introduced in late May. That proposal aims to improve export control mechanisms – including for chips and high-capacity chip manufacturing – protect covered AI technologies with a focus on cybersecurity, and limit outbound investment to firms directly tied to the Chinese Community Party or China's People's Liberation Army. Chinese Bioweapon Smuggling Case Shows Us 'Trains Our Enemies,' 'Learned Nothing' From Covid: Security Expert "We start with the premise that China has a plan to replace the United States. And I don't say that to scare people or my constituents, but they have a plan to replace the United States, and they're working on it every single day. And that entails stealing data and infiltrating our systems," LaHood told Fox News Digital. "AI is the next frontier on that. We lead the world in technology. We lead the world when it comes to AI. But what this bill will do will again make sure that things are done the right way and the correct way, and that we're protecting our assets and promoting the current technology that we have in our country." Read On The Fox News App LaHood pointed to evidence uncovered by the committee that he said shows the CCP's DeepSeek used illegal distillation techniques to steal insights from U.S. AI models to accelerate their own technology development. He also pointed to how China allegedly smuggled AI chips through Singapore intermediaries to circumvent U.S. export controls on the technology. "As we look at, 'How do we win the strategic competition?' I think most experts would say we're ahead in AI right now against China, but not by much. It is a short lead," LaHood told Fox News Digital. He said he is confident his legislative proposals will put the U.S. "in the best position to protect our assets here and make sure that we're not shipping things that shouldn't go to AI that allow them to win the AI race in China." "Whoever wins this race in the future, it's going to be critical to future warfare capabilities, to, obviously, cybersecurity," LaHood continued. "And then, whoever wins the AI competition is going to yield really unwavering economic influence in the future. And so we're aggressive in this bill in terms of targeting those areas where we need to protect our AI and our companies here in the United States, both on the commercial side and on the government side, to put us in the best position possible." The "Advanced AI Security Readiness Act" calls on the NSA to develop a playbook that identifies vulnerabilities in AI data centers and developers producing sensitive AI technologies with an emphasis on unique "threat vectors" that do not typically arise, or are less severe, in the context of conventional information technology systems." The bill says the NSA must develop "core insights" in how advanced AI systems are being trained to identify potential interferences and must develop strategies to "detect, prevent and respond to cyber threats by threat actors targeting covered AI technologies." Amazon Announces $20B Investment In Rural Pennsylvania For Ai Data Centers The bill calls on the NSA to "identify levels of security, if any, that would require substantial involvement" by the U.S. government "in the development or oversight of highly advanced AI systems." It cites a "hypothetical initiative to build covered AI technology systems in a highly secure government environment" with certain protocols in place, such as personnel vetting and security clearance processes, to mitigate "insider threats." Though not directly related, the new bill is being introduced a week after FBI Director Kash Patel sounded the alarm on how the CCP continues to deploy operatives and researchers to "infiltrate" U.S. institutions. Patel laid out the risk in announcing that two Chinese nationals were charged with smuggling a potential bioweapon into the U.S. LaHood said that case further highlights "the level of penetration and sophistication that the CCP will engage in," but he added that his bill focuses on putting a "protective layer" on U.S. AI tech and "restricting outbound investment to China." He pointed to how the CCP also has bought up farmland around strategic U.S. national security locations, particularly in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. "If everything was an even playing field, and we were all abiding by the same rules and standards and ethical guidelines, I have no doubt the U.S. would win [the AI race], but China has a tendency and a history of playing by a different set of rules and standards," LaHood said. "They cheat, they steal, they take our intellectual property. Not just my opinion, that's been factually laid out, you know, in many different instances. And that's the reason why we need to have a bill like this." The bill comes as the Trump administration has been pushing to bolster artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States, and major tech companies, including Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle and others, have made major investments in constructing AI-focused data centers and enhancing U.S. cloud computing. Last week, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in constructing AI data centers in rural Pennsylvania. It followed a similar $10 billion investment in North Carolina. In late May, the NSA's Artificial Intelligence Security Center released "joint guidance" on the "risks and best practices in AI data security." The recommendations include implementing methods to secure the data used in AI-based systems, "such as employing digital signatures to authenticate trusted revisions, tracking data provenance, and leveraging trusted infrastructure." The center said its guidance is "critically relevant for organizations – especially system owners and administrators within the Department of Defense, National Security Systems, and the Defense Industrial Base – that already use AI systems in their day-to-day operations and those that are seeking to integrate AI into their infrastructure."Original article source: House bipartisan bill directs NSA to create 'AI security playbook' amid Chinese tech race
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
House bipartisan bill directs NSA to create 'AI security playbook' amid Chinese tech race
FIRST ON FOX – Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ind., is introducing a new bill Thursday imploring the National Security Administration (NSA) to develop an "AI security playbook" to stay ahead of threats from China and other foreign adversaries. The bill, dubbed the "Advanced AI Security Readiness Act," directs the NSA's Artificial Intelligence Security Center to develop an "AI Security Playbook to address vulnerabilities, threat detection, cyber and physical security strategies, and contingency plans for highly sensitive AI systems." It is co-sponsored by House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., Ranking Member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. LaHood, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Select Committee on China, told Fox News Digital that the legislative proposal, if passed, would be the first time Congress codifies a "multi-prong approach to ensure that the U.S. remains ahead in the advanced technology race against the CCP." He said the bill will improve export control mechanisms – including for chips and high capacity chip manufacturing – protect covered AI technologies with a focus on cybersecurity, and limit outbound investment to firms directly tied to the Chinese Community Party or China's People's Liberation Army. "We start with the premise that China has a plan to replace the United States. And I don't say that to scare people or my constituents, but they have a plan to replace the United States, and they're working on it every single day. And that entails stealing data and infiltrating our systems," LaHood told Fox News Digital. "AI is the next frontier on that. We lead the world in technology. We lead the world when it comes to AI. But what this bill will do will again make sure that things are done the right way and the correct way, and that we're protecting our assets and promoting the current technology that we have in our country." LaHood pointed to evidence uncovered by the committee that he said shows the CCP's DeepSeek used illegal distillation techniques to steal insights from U.S. AI models to accelerate their own technology development. He also pointed to how China allegedly smuggled AI chips through Singapore intermediaries to circumvent U.S. export controls on the technology. "As we look at, 'How do we win the strategic competition?' I think most experts would say we're ahead in AI right now against China, but not by much. It is a short lead," LaHood told Fox News Digital. He said he is confident the bill will put the U.S. "in the best position to protect our assets here and make sure that we're not shipping things that shouldn't go to AI that allow them to win the AI race in China." "Whoever wins this race in the future, it's going to be critical to future warfare capabilities, to, obviously, cybersecurity," LaHood continued. "And then, whoever wins the AI competition is going to yield really unwavering economic influence in the future. And so we're aggressive in this bill in terms of targeting those areas where we need to protect our AI and our companies here in the United States, both on the commercial side and on the government side, to put us in the best position possible." The legislative proposal calls on the NSA to develop a playbook that identifies vulnerabilities in AI data centers and developers producing sensitive AI technologies with an emphasis on unique "threat vectors" that do not typically arise, or are less severe, in the context of conventional information technology systems." The bill says the NSA must develop "core insights" in how advanced AI systems are being trained to identify potential interferences and must develop strategies to "detect, prevent and respond to cyber threats by threat actors targeting covered AI technologies." The bill calls on the NSA to "identify levels of security, if any, that would require substantial involvement" by the U.S. government "in the development or oversight of highly advanced AI systems." It cites a "hypothetical initiative to build covered AI technology systems in a highly secure government environment" with certain protocols in place, such as personnel vetting and security clearance processes, to mitigate "insider threats." Though not directly related, the legislation is being introduced a week after FBI Director Kash Patel sounded the alarm on how the CCP continues to deploy operatives and researchers to "infiltrate" U.S. institutions. Patel laid out the risk in announcing that two Chinese nationals were charged with smuggling a potential bioweapon into the U.S. LaHood said that case further highlights "the level of penetration and sophistication that the CCP will engage in," but he added that his bill focuses on putting a "protective layer" on U.S. AI tech and "restricting outbound investment to China." He pointed to how the CCP also has bought up farmland around strategic U.S. national security locations, particularly in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. "If everything was an even playing field, and we were all abiding by the same rules and standards and ethical guidelines, I have no doubt the U.S. would win [the AI race], but China has a tendency and a history of playing by a different set of rules and standards," LaHood said. "They cheat, they steal, they take our intellectual property. Not just my opinion, that's been factually laid out, you know, in many different instances. And that's the reason why we need to have a bill like this." The bill comes as the Trump administration has been pushing to bolster artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States, and major tech companies, including Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle and others, have made major investments in constructing AI-focused data centers and enhancing U.S. cloud computing. Last week, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in constructing AI data centers in rural Pennsylvania. It followed a similar $10 billion investment in North Carolina. In late May, the NSA's Artificial Intelligence Security Center released "joint guidance" on the "risks and best practices in AI data security." The recommendations include implementing methods to secure the data used in AI-based systems, "such as employing digital signatures to authenticate trusted revisions, tracking data provenance, and leveraging trusted infrastructure." The center said its guidance is "critically relevant for organizations – especially system owners and administrators within the Department of Defense, National Security Systems, and the Defense Industrial Base – that already use AI systems in their day-to-day operations and those that are seeking to integrate AI into their infrastructure."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nolley targets LaHood, prioritizing working-class concerns
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Paul Nolley, executive director of Project First Rate, kicked off his campaign to unseat Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood (R) in Congress on Thursday. Nolley is running as a Democrat for Illinois' 16th Congressional seat in 2026, to represent Northern and Central Illinois, including Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Harvard, and Galena. Nolley took to the local IBEW Hall, where he addressed a crowd of supporters. He accused LaHood of 'being afraid of his constituents.' 'I'm not scared of my community, I'm not afraid to meet with people, to hold meetings and hear different voices, even those that I disagree with, and I think that the incumbent is scared to meet with his constituents,' said Nolley. 'So, I'm just a regular person here to serve the people, and I'm happy to meet with and hear the voices, concerns and issues of regular people. I believe that Darin LaHood is not okay with that.' 'Our politics are broken. Too many politicians have forgotten who they work for. They work for the people, not the big corporations and donor class,' Nolley said a month ago. 'I'm running because it's time for regular people to stand up and say enough is enough. Working families have been hit hard by policies from both parties for decades, and too many people struggle to get by while corruption runs wild in Washington and the ultra-rich have watched their wealth grow to unimaginable levels.' Nolley has served as executive director of Project First Rate, which works with union contractors and tradespeople, since 2020. 'I'm from a working-class family and grew up working at the local racetrack, in kitchens, retail, and farm fields, not around the powerful and well-connected. I'm here to provide a new vision and opportunity for residents of the 16th, and that campaign begins today,' Nolley said in April. According to a press release, Nolley 'is centered on protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; rebuilding American manufacturing and family farms; rooting out pay-to-play corruption; strengthening unions and workers' rights; and investing in policies that make raising a family in today's economy easier.' Nolley is running against incumbent LaHood (R), Joe Albright (D), and John Kitover (R). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
