Nielsen meets with NFL officials to discuss Super Bowl security

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Wednesday met with NFL and Atlanta officials to discuss security operations for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Nielsen tweeted that nearly 600 DHS employees and more than 500 other federal personnel have worked with local law enforcement on safety and security efforts ahead of the game this weekend.

{mosads}”DHS works hard so football fans can have fun,” she tweeted.

Nielsen shared photos of her visits to the city’s Joint Operations Center, as well as Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The secretary met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and local law enforcement leaders, among others.

Thanks to the 25 @DHSgov entities, including nearly 600 homeland employees, & the more than 500 personnel from federal partners for your dedicated work to further enhance the security of #SBLIII in support of local officials. DHS works hard so football fans can have fun.

— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 30, 2019

Atlanta has been preparing for months to host Super Bowl LIII, which will pit the New England Patriots against the Los Angeles Rams. The game will kick off on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST.

The NFL’s annual marquee event is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Atlanta, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium seats 71,000 people.

Nielsen has attracted the ire of some Democrats back in Washington, D.C., as House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) on Wednesday said he could subpoena the secretary to appear before his committee.

Thompson in a letter Tuesday criticized Nielsen for refusing to testify on Feb. 6 about border security, calling her decision “unacceptable.” DHS said Nielsen had accepted the invitation to testify but proposed alternative dates in February.