New York Governor Kathy Hochul asked President Donald Trump on Monday to increase federal defenses against drone attacks, saying events such as the World Cup and the US 250th anniversary celebrations are “primary targets.”
She noted that next summer, “New York area will be the epicenter of several high -level events, including the World Cup, Tall Ships Flotilla, International Naval Review, Macy’s largest fireworks show and the celebration of the United States 250th anniversary, which will be primary targets.”
“We need a comprehensive federal strategy that not only drastically enhances drone detection capabilities at national level, but also offers robust mitigation measures and several layers,” Hochul said in a letter to Trump released on Monday.
She said the government needs to do better job to protect “critical infrastructures such as population centers, public services and military active.”
Hochul urged the White House to act, citing a series of incidents last year and the growing use of drones in the war in Ukraine and other problem points around the world.
The White House did not commented immediately. Last month, Trump created a federal task force to ensure US control over US skies, expanding restrictions on sensitive places, expanding federal use of technology to detect real-time drones and assist state and local police authorities.
The World Cup final will be held on July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 20 km from New York City.
“An attack on military infrastructure and strategic criticism in New York represents an urgent danger to the United States,” Hochul said. “The reality is that the federal government is unprepared and poorly positioned to detect and mitigate threats [de drones] and states are harmed by the lack of legislative authority and action of the Federal Aviation Administration. “
Last month, Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Science and Technology Policies Office, said Trump also intends to address the “growing threat of criminal terrorists and misuse of drones by foreigners in the US Airspace.”
He said the country is “protecting our borders against threats to national security, including air, with large -scale public events such as Olympics and the World Cup on the horizon.”
Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympic Games.
