Show notes
In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo speaks with Ryan Propis, Vice President for Security and Facilitation at the U.S. Travel Association. With the U.S. preparing to host the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028, Propis outlines how these massive international events will test the limits of our country's travel infrastructure and security systems. Drawing on his experience as Chief of Staff at TSA and a senior staffer on Capitol Hill, he discusses the urgent need to modernize how we screen, move, and protect travelers—especially as daily passenger volumes are set to surge. The conversation highlights the role of technology, data-sharing, and public-private coordination in ensuring secure and efficient travel to and within the United States.
Main Topics Covered: -
Anticipating record-breaking travel volumes in 2026 (World Cup) and 2028 (Olympics)
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The TSA's role in balancing efficiency and security at scale
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How Propis's experience at TSA and in Congress shaped his approach to modernizing U.S. travel security through both policy and operations
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Public-private collaboration on travel facilitation and security innovation
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The importance of interoperability and data-sharing across agencies
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How travel security fits into broader national security strategy
Top Quotes: "We call [it] the mega decade of events coming up here. You've got this summer, the Ryder Cup and the Club World Cup. Next summer, you've got America's 250th anniversary with the FIFA World Cup—the largest they've ever had. More teams than they've ever had. It's across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—11 cities in the U.S., which is absolutely massive. The Olympics in '28, Olympics in L.A., we have Olympics in [2034] in Salt Lake. So it just continues to grow and grow." – Ryan Propis
"Last year, TSA screened 3 million travelers on two different days. In 2026, when we host the World Cup, we're gonna have 3 million travelers a day on 50 days… and then in 2028, when we have the Olympics, it's going to be on 100 days. The system is just not there. We're not ready yet in terms of efficiency [and] security." – Ryan Propis
"Travel is absolutely essential to the economy, to our national security, and really the American way of life." – Ryan Propis
"[The commercial facilities sector is] naturally open. You know, there's not natural barriers or hardened security across the space. You know, it's almost not tenable to do that in terms of the economic impact and for the processes and for these operations to take place as they normally would." – Ryan Propis
"The cybersecurity risk from American companies operating in China having to report and share certain information just to operate opens up a whole other can of worms that obviously I know we're all concerned about." – Ryan Propis
Relevant Links and Resources: Guest Bio: Ryan Propis is the Vice President for Security and Facilitation at the U.S. Travel Association, where he leads efforts to modernize and secure the travel experience across the country. Prior to this role, he served as Chief of Staff at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and spent over a decade on Capitol Hill, including as General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the House Homeland Security Committee. His expertise spans policy, regulatory coordination, and risk management across transportation and commercial facilities sectors, particularly in preparation for major global events like the World Cup and the Olympics.
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