Protecting New Year's Events

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that focuses on stopping attacks using weapons of mass destruction (WMD). In plain terms, it helps protect the U.S. from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats by:

• Funding and equipping federal, state, and local partners with detection tools and training
• Analyzing WMD-related threats and sharing that information with security and public‑safety agencies
• Developing and deploying new detection technologies to those partners In the New Year’s context, CWMD led the specialized detection efforts that were layered onto local police and event security.

The Mobile Detection Deployment Program (MDDP) is a CWMD program that sends mobile teams and equipment to help detect dangerous materials at major events and operations. At public events like New Year’s Eve, MDDP typically works by:

• Deploying portable chemical, radiological, and nuclear (and sometimes biological) detection devices and mobile labs
• Embedding CWMD subject‑matter experts with local police and security teams
• Screening crowds, vehicles, and key areas around the event to spot illicit materials and, if something suspicious is found, helping law enforcement investigate and respond. For New Year’s 2026, DHS says MDDP was deployed to Times Square, Chicago, New Orleans (including the Sugar Bowl), San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Nashville (including the Music City Bowl) to provide this type of CBRN detection support.

The Securing the Cities (STC) Program is a DHS/CWMD initiative that builds long‑term radiological and nuclear detection networks in high‑risk urban areas. In practice, STC:

• Provides cities and regions with radiation‑detection equipment, training, and operational plans
• Helps police, fire, and other agencies coordinate on how to find and stop illicit radiological or nuclear materials moving through a region Federal law and GAO describe STC as aimed at “enhanc[ing] the ability of the United States to detect and prevent terrorist attacks and other high‑consequence events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials.” CWMD manages this program and, for New Year’s events, MDDP worked “with the Securing the Cities Program” in New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco—essentially plugging its surge teams and gear into the local STC detection networks already built in those areas.

BioWatch is a U.S. federal program that continuously samples outdoor air in major cities to detect certain dangerous biological agents that could be used in an attack. How it works (simplified):

• Air samplers (often mounted on existing air‑quality stations) pull in air and trap particles on filters.
• The filters are taken to public‑health labs and tested (using PCR) for specific pathogens.
• If a targeted pathogen is detected above background levels, it triggers an investigation and public‑health response. Open sources indicate BioWatch is designed to detect aerosolized biological warfare agents such as anthrax, smallpox, plague, and tularemia (among others), though the full list is not public. For New Year’s 2026, DHS says the BioWatch system was used to provide biological detection at the Tournament of Roses Parade/Rose Bowl in Pasadena and at the Times Square New Year’s Eve event.

CWMD’s Intelligence and Analysis Watch Desk is a 24/7 coordination hub within CWMD that, during major events, focuses on the information side of the mission. For New Year’s events, DHS states that this watch desk “supplied intelligence coordination and support,” which in practical terms means it:

• Monitored threat reporting related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks
• Shared relevant intelligence with CWMD field teams (like MDDP) and with partner agencies
• Helped ensure any suspicious detection or law‑enforcement report was quickly connected to the broader intelligence picture. Public sources provide only this high‑level description; more detailed procedures are not publicly available.

Yes. While DHS/CWMD focused on behind‑the‑scenes detection, local governments and event organizers issued public advisories and restrictions for these New Year’s celebrations and related games. Examples include:

• Times Square, New York City: The city published detailed street‑closure maps and access information for the Dec. 31, 2025–Jan. 1, 2026 celebration, and TimesSquareNYC’s official FAQ explains that attendees must pass police screening and cannot bring items like large bags, alcohol in glass bottles, or umbrellas into viewing areas.
• Rose Parade & Rose Bowl, Pasadena: The Tournament of Roses and Pasadena authorities published safety tips and rules, including bans on items such as tents, sofas, ladders used as seats, and many large bags, and instructions to stay behind the marked “Honor Line.”
• Las Vegas Strip New Year’s Eve: Clark County/Las Vegas officials announced temporary road closures and a list of prohibited items on the Strip and downtown, such as strollers, coolers, large bags, and glass or metal containers. There is no public indication that CWMD itself issued direct instructions to attendees; those advisories came from local authorities and event organizers as part of their normal security planning.