DSS role for Team USA at Milan-Cortina 2026 is formalized by memorandum of understanding with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee

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A memorandum of understanding exists between DSS and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee that formalizes DSS’s security role.

Source summary
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) will lead security operations for the United States’ presence at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic (Feb. 6–22) and Paralympic (Mar. 6–15) Games. The role is formalized by a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and includes DSS chairing the interagency International Security Event Group (ISEG). DSS agents and analysts will staff a 24/7 Joint Operations Center at the U.S. Consulate in Milan to coordinate with U.S. federal partners and host‑nation authorities. For more information, the notice lists DS-Press@state.gov and diplomaticsecurity.state.gov.
Latest fact check

Independent evidence from the State Department’s Office of Inspector General shows that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (which includes the Diplomatic Security Service, DSS) has a formal "memorandum of understanding" (MOU) with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). In its March 2022 inspection of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Protection, the OIG explicitly recommended that the Bureau "update its memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee," confirming both the existence and formal nature of this agreement. This MOU is referenced in the context of the Major Events Coordination Unit and protection activities related to major international events. Given that DSS is the operational arm of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security responsible for such overseas security operations, this supports the assertion that DSS’s security role for the Games is formalized through that MOU.

Verdict: True, because official OIG documentation confirms the existence of a formal MOU between the Bureau of Diplomatic Security/DSS and the USOPC governing their cooperation around major events such as the Games, matching the claim’s substance.

Timeline

  1. Update · Jan 14, 2026, 02:58 AMTrue
    Independent evidence from the State Department’s Office of Inspector General shows that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (which includes the Diplomatic Security Service, DSS) has a formal "memorandum of understanding" (MOU) with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). In its March 2022 inspection of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Protection, the OIG explicitly recommended that the Bureau "update its memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee," confirming both the existence and formal nature of this agreement. This MOU is referenced in the context of the Major Events Coordination Unit and protection activities related to major international events. Given that DSS is the operational arm of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security responsible for such overseas security operations, this supports the assertion that DSS’s security role for the Games is formalized through that MOU. Verdict: True, because official OIG documentation confirms the existence of a formal MOU between the Bureau of Diplomatic Security/DSS and the USOPC governing their cooperation around major events such as the Games, matching the claim’s substance.
  2. Original article · Jan 13, 2026

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