Securing the Super Bowl is a Team Game

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The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will collaborate with several agencies to ensure the safety and security of the National Football League’s Super Bowl LVI at the Los Angeles metropolitan area on Feb. 13.

The DHS classified this event as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1, meaning that the Department has determined this event to be significant, with national and international importance, and requiring extensive federal support. 

More than 500 DHS personnel will provide extensive air and maritime security resources; anti-human trafficking prevention and enforcement support; intellectual property enforcement; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives detection technologies; venue, cyber, and infrastructure security assessments; intelligence analysis and threat assessments; and real-time situational awareness reporting for its partners. 

Securing the championship is a teamwork mission. As the principal federal official for domestic incident management, the Secretary of Homeland Security appoints a Federal Coordinating Officer to serve as the Secretary’s representative locally and federal point of contact for facilitating planning and support. 

Several DHS agencies are working with state and local partners and the NFL on a range of initiatives to ensure the safety and security of Super Bowl LVI. 

Among the partners:  

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is providing explosive detection canine teams and maritime security assets.    

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) is providing subject matter experts and technology to detect and prevent potential threats related to weapons of mass destruction.  

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is providing assets including aviation security, video surveillance capabilities, and non-intrusive inspection of vehicles and cargo support. 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working with federal, state, and local authorities to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to critical infrastructure in Los Angeles. CISA is also serving as a liaison for private communications companies supporting the event. CISA has conducted cybersecurity vulnerability assessments. During the Super Bowl, CISA will support emergency communications and monitor potential risks to critical infrastructure.  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) units to ensure that state and local security personnel can quickly coordinate with federal partners in the event of an emergency. 

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assess the threat landscape leading up to the Super Bowl. 

The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is serving as federal coordinator for this event, leading coordination and integration efforts across federal, state, and local partners that are supporting the safety and security of this event, according to dhs.gov.