Homeland Security to Help with Super Bowl Security Despite Shutdown

"The current lapse in government funding will have no effect on our commitment to assuring a safe and secure event," DHS press secretary Tyler Q. Houlton said.

• By Jessica Davis
• Jan 24, 2019

Despite the partial government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday it will still provide security support for this year’s Super Bowl. Super Bowl LIII will be held on Feb. 3, 2019, at Atlanta’s Mercedez-Benz Stadium.

According to federal and local officials, the Super Bowl requires the support of more than 40 federal, local and state agencies, particularly support at the federal level. Officials said the security plans will be led by the Atlanta Police Department and Department of Homeland Security.

DHS and other federal agencies will continue with Super Bowl plans despite the shutdown, DHS press secretary Tyler Q. Houlton told CNN.

"The Department takes the security of special events like the Super Bowl extremely seriously, and we continue executing our protection responsibility and supporting our local public safety partners for this event. The current lapse in government funding will have no effect on our commitment to assuring a safe and secure event," Houlton said in a statement.

Any federal officials working on Super Bowl plans have been deemed essential and will not receive pay until the government is reopened.

Multiple agencies are involved in securing the event, including the FBI, the Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the George Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia World Congress Center Authority Police, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Atlanta Fire Rescue and Grady EMS.

Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos told CNN, "We are not disclosing numbers, except to say every Atlanta police officer will be on duty, working 12-hour shifts from January 26 to February 5.”

The Super Bowl is classified as a “SEAR 1” event, an extremely high security rating from the federal government. SEAR 1 events “may require the full support of the United States Government,” according to Coast Guard guidance. The game received the same designation last year.