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Late. John Fetterman, D-Pa., wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security requesting special security accommodations for the upcoming NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Fetterman cited concerns amid the ongoing Iran war for his desire for more security.
“I urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to raise the Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) for the National Football League’s 2026 Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to ensure the safety of participants and fans at the event. The NFL Draft is one of the most iconic sporting events held each year,” the letter began.
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Late. John Fetterman listens during a confirmation hearing to Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on March 18. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“This is the first time since 1948 that the NFL will host the Draft in Pittsburgh. It is expected to draw well over 700,000 fans to outdoor events at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium, and more than 50 million viewers are expected to tune in to watch the Draft on television or online. In the past, DHS has designated the Draft as a SEARge event, but you have designated the Draft as a SEARge event. a Level 2 SEAR event given the changing threat environment in the wake of the war in Iran.
“A Level 2 designation would provide greater coordination and deployment of federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as counter-drone support, K9 units and intelligence analysis and sharing. Increasing the SEAR designation for the draft will help ensure that additional resources are deployed to keep participants and fans safe and able to enjoy the draft without fear.”
TRUMP SAYS IRAN’S WORLD CUP PARTICIPATION MAY NOT BE ‘APPROPRIATE’, WHILE ADDING MARKETING TEAM IS STILL ‘WELCOME’
A general view of Heinz Field during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 2, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
The draft is set to take place in Pittsburgh from the 23rd-25th. April.
Chairman Donald Trump declared that Iran is “essentially no longer a threat” after a 32-day US military campaign during a prime-time speech on Wednesday.
“I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives before long. Very soon we will hit them extremely hard next two to three weeks“, Trump said. “We’re going to bring them back to the stone age where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.”
“We are in this military operation … for 32 days,” he added. “And the country has been removed and is essentially no longer a threat.”
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The mission known as Operation Epic Fury began just over a month ago, on February 28th.
Since then, US forces have struck more than 12,000 targets inside Iran and damaged or destroyed 155 naval vessels, according to the Central Command. Thirteen US service members have died during the operations and 350 have been injured.
