By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-24 14:41:56 | Updated at 2026-07-27 08:48:40
2 days ago
A whopping $170 million war chest passed by Congress to crush China's illegal fishing operations was left completely untouched by the Trump administration, an explosive new report reveals.
Lawmakers carved out the massive sum inside the GOP's flagship One Big Beautiful Bill Act, intending to neutralize Beijing's shadowy maritime aggression – a growing menace that defense officials warn poses a serious threat to US national security.
Instead of deploying the millions to rein in Beijing, Trump officials sat on the money and failed to spend a single dime on the initiative, according to Punchbowl News.
The Department of Homeland Security quietly hijacked almost the entire fortune, using a majority of the funds into security for sporting spectacles – including FIFA World Cup matches, America's 250th birthday celebrations and more.
The changes in funds took place under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Both a senior congressional insider and an administration official confirmed to Punchbowl that millions intended to police rogue Chinese ships were used to guard stadiums and partygoers instead.
Senate Commerce Committee Boss Ted Cruz was the mastermind who originally locked down the $170 million stash, earmarking it for cutting–edge 'maritime domain awareness' technology to hunt down Chinese ships.
Now, the top Republican is speaking out after watching his high–tech defense plan get repurposed.
The Department of Homeland Security quietly hijacked almost the entire fortune, using a majority of the funds into security for sporting spectacles – including FIFA World Cup matches, America's 250th birthday celebrations and more
FIFA President Gianni Infantino poses for a photo with security staff after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York–New Jersey Stadium
Security measures are taken as Spanish fans celebrate after Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the final match between Spain and Argentina at Times Square in New York
Security personnel stand guard as Palestinian fans watch the live broadcast of the 2026 World Cup final football match between Argentina and Spain
A frustrated Cruz admitted he fought to arm authorities against Beijing, but conceded that 'unfortunately the bulk of the funding has not gone where it needed to go,' without saying where it went.
A bipartisan gang of senators, spearheaded by Cruz, fired off an urgent letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday, demanding immediate sanctions on 29 supply ships keeping China's illegal fleet afloat.
The lawmakers warned that turning the screws on these supply networks would crush Beijing's high–seas plunder, writing in their letter: 'Anyone linked to the vessels... will be exposed to reputational and financial crime risks. The vessels would switch from being assets to liabilities, greatly complicating the ability of the CCP to continue their IUU fishing activities.'
A staggering $155 million of the $170 million cash fund was splashed out on counter–drone technology, including high–tech sensors to track rogue aircraft, to guard massive crowds at World Cup soccer games and America 250 pageants.
As for the leftover millions? They were reportedly scraped together for Coast Guard communications gear and a digital upgrade for Merchant Marine credentials.
But Cruz isn't backing down from the fight.
Taking advantage of his perch atop the committee that oversees the Coast Guard's budget, the Texas senator vowed to keep hammering away until the military branch gets the muscle it needs to blow China's illegal fleet out of the water.
Meanwhile, the nine bipartisan senators who fired off the letter to Bessent pulled no punches, slamming Beijing's high–seas plunder as a global horror show.
They warned China's lawless fleet is carrying out massive operations 'at a scale that constitutes ecocide conducted via gross human rights abuses.'
DHS did not respond to a request for comment for the story.
