A coalition of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently called for a comprehensive investigation into potential 2016 presidential election interference carried out by individuals working for the Russian government. “The first duty of the United States government … Read More
The U.S. Senate passed this week the Promoting Travel, Commerce and National Security Act of 2016. The bill will allow travelers to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspections prior to traveling to reduce overall wait times and aid … Read More
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in coordination with Europe’s European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3), arrested approximately 34 individuals in connection with an international cyber crime investigation across 13 different countries. The operation was aimed at users who offered services … Read More
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began posting notices at airports to inform travelers that the agency will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements at airport security checkpoints beginning in Jan. 2018. The REAL ID program stipulates that any traveler suing … Read More
Agents with the Yuma Sector Border Patrol recently apprehended multiple individuals over separate incidents in connection with cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking. On Dec. 10, Blythe Station agents seized more than 30 pounds of cocaine and 15 pounds of methamphetamine, … Read More
U.S. Rep. Earl L. Carter (R-GA) on Monday introduced the TSA Screening Transparency and Accountability Act, which will analyze cost effectiveness, efficiency and customer satisfaction of the screening partnership program (SPP) compared to the screening procedures of the Transportation Security … Read More
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held its 17th Global Programme on Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes and Asset Recovery in Colombia, which focused on combating financial crimes associated with cocaine trafficking in Latin America. The course drew more than 40 … Read More
Smiths Detection recently opened its new United Kingdom centre of excellence for trace detection, which provides the company improved customer operations, new amenities for employees and the opportunity for future growth and development. Built specifically for Smiths Detection, the 67,000 … Read More
Health Canada recently approved a new drug submission from Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. for its botulism antitoxin, BAT, which is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic botulism. BAT is administered following documented or suspected exposure to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A through … Read More
President-elect Donald J. Trump recently selected General John Kelly as his nomination for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While serving as Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Kelly oversaw U.S. military operations in Central and South America … Read More
The U.S. House passed this week a bipartisan bill authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) aimed at strengthening the response to acts of terrorism perpetrated by the militant group Boko Haram. The bill requires a new five-year U.S. government … Read More
According to a recent report by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), governments, industry and international organizations alike must accelerate response efforts to protect against cyberattacks to protect against catastrophic consequences. The report, titled Outpacing Cyber Threats: Priorities for Cybersecurity at … Read More
The U.S. Senate passed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earlier this week to bipartisan approval and applause from the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). The bill, which authorizes funding for the U.S. … Read More
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson hosted this week a coalition of Chinese government officials for the third U.S.-China High-level Joint Dialogue on Cybercrime and Related Issues to discuss a range of topics … Read More
Emergent Biosolutions said on Thursday it signed a $911 million contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to supply vaccines to the Strategic National Stockpile to bolster U.S. national preparedness efforts in the event of a biological attack. … Read More
A coalition of Democratic Congress members recently urged the Obama Administration via letter to provide them with briefings on potential Russian interference during the recent U.S. presidential election. In the wake of reports speculating that Russia may have interfered in … Read More
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action earlier this week to impede financial support networks of the terrorist group al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The department designated AQAP leaders Al-Hasan Ali Ali … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently opened a temporary holding facility near the Donna-Rio International Bridge as a response to the recent surge in unaccompanied migrant children and family units arriving in South Texas. The facility is located approximately … Read More
The Alliance for Biosecurity commended the U.S. Senate’s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which contains provisions to promote innovation and efficiency in the development of new medical countermeasures. A key issue the organization cited in the bill was … Read More
The United States Air Force (USAF) recently signed off on the newly-upgraded Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) ground system from Lockheed Martin, which will enhance the constellation’s ability to deliver infrared data critical to early missile warning and defense. The … Read More
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the December Terror Threat Snapshot earlier this week. The “snapshot” is a monthly assessment, which describes the growing terrorist threats the United States and its allies face … Read More
Under a recent draft law by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and European Union (EU) ministers, all EU citizens and third country nationals entering or leaving the EU will be checked against databases, such as lost or stolen documents. … Read More
Representatives from 114 States Parties convened at the 18th Annual Meeting of National Authorities last month at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague to discuss a variety of topics related to the effective implementation … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the State Department Authorities Act, a bill to strengthen embassy security, enhances congressional oversight and advances multiples reforms within the U.S. State Department. Much of the bill centers on the use of “best … Read More
The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently awarded Raytheon BBN Technologies multiple contracts to research and develop technologies to detect and respond to cyber attacks on U.S. power grid infrastructure. The company will be … Read More
At a United States-European Union Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs this week, officials reaffirmed the strong bonds between the two governmental bodies and committed to continue working together to combat terrorism and in other areas. The event was … Read More
The Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity recently released an assessment of the current state of U.S. cybersecurity and provided a series of recommendations that the government and private sector could take to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure. “The commission identified … Read More
Multiple provisions introduced by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) were included in the recently passed FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). They included full funding for two aircraft at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the A-10 and EC-130H Compass Call, … Read More
In response to North Korea’s September 2016 nuclear test and ongoing violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 16 entities and seven individuals for their ties to … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week on the the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions introduced by U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) to strengthen border security measures. Thompson’s inclusions addressed Customs and Border Protection’s pre-clearance … Read More
The House Republican Conference voted last week to select U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) for a third term as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee in the 115th Congress. “I am honored to continue my service as Chairman of … Read More
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) was recently awarded a contract by the Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center to support the Joint Staff J6 Directorate’s command, control, communications and computers (C4), and cyber program. The contract covers a five-year … Read More
The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) recently indicated the agency plans to implement new technology into its training courses, including the latest evolution of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. IMS technology revolves around … Read More
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) recently publicly requested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) improve and expand its oversight into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s use of private, for-profit detention facilities. Thompson’s request comes in the wake of a … Read More
A coalition of law enforcement authorities including German police, U.S. authorities, the FBI, Europol, Eurojust and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently dismantled an international criminal infrastructure platform known as Avalanche. The Avalanche network was used as a delivery … Read More
