Government
U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation awarded $2.3 million to three groups to develop advanced technologies for homeland security.
The BIRD Foundation is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) commended the Trump Administration for imposing sanctions on eight senior Iranian officials and key sectors of Iran’s economy, including steel and iron manufacturers.
“Today’s announcement of sanctions against senior Iranian officials and Iran’s... Read More »
A group of Democratic Senators urged the Trump Administration last week to detail the security measures to protect diplomats, service members, personnel, and families serving in the Middle East following the killing of Iran’s Qassem Soleimani.
The Democratic Senators also want to evidence of... Read More »
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers screened more than 43.8 million passengers and crew members during the holiday travel period, a record and 4 percent higher than during 2018.
The holiday period ran from Dec. 19 to Jan. 5. The busiest day was Dec. 27, when officers screened... Read More »
Federal officials recently joined Yuma, Ariz., city and county leaders in touting border wall construction progress, noting completion of the first 100 miles of the system along the southwest border.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf recently joined by Senator Martha McSally... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently sent correspondence to U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, pressing for information regarding the legal basis used for the military operation that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
“During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services... Read More »
DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge Urban Circuit is looking to change the nature of subterranean warfare, and as of last week, 17 teams have qualified to demonstrate breakthroughs and solutions to existing problems.
Operating underground is, by its nature, highly challenging for humans. Both... Read More »
Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, met with officials from Honduras to discuss efforts to discuss several issues related to border security.
Specifically, they discussed plans to stem the flow of illegal immigration, combat transnational criminal... Read More »
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) recently introduced legislation designed to strengthen the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance.
The United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 authorizes $3.3 billion in annual security assistance consistent with the Memorandum... Read More »
El Paso Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the return of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to its Air and Marine Operations aids capability to accomplish its missions.
The CBP’s Air and Marine Operations El Paso Air Branch (AMO El Paso) had not flown the UH-60 Black Hawk since... Read More »
Debra Parker is the new special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office based in Seattle.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said Parker, a 25-year veteran of federal law enforcement, would be responsible for supervising special agents conducting... Read More »
Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) recently urged federal financial regulators to strengthen cyber infrastructure against possible attacks on the heels of recent threats from Iran and its allies.
The congressman forwarded correspondence to nine separate financial... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced three bills this week that seek to improve 5G security in the country.
One of the bills is the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019 (H.R. 2881), introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Francis Rooney... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) hosted a Law Enforcement Roundtable in her district at the Milton Community Center to discuss several pressing issues facing police officers.
Among the issues, law enforcement officials spoke about the importance of mental health resources for police departments.... Read More »
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members, in the wake of this week’s U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and recent domestic acts of anti-Semitic violence, called on the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in homeland security grants aimed at aiding state and local... Read More »
Two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) locations have been selected to evaluate the operational impact of proposed regulatory changes requiring DNA sample collection from some in CBP custody.
Beginning this month, the Border Patrol is implementing the 90-day pilot program in the Detroit Sector.... Read More »
Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Angus King (I-ME) recently introduced a measure designed to direct the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to national and economic security interests.
The Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019, also initiates a... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) recently expressed concern that the Department of Defense will significantly reduce shipbuilding in its fiscal year 2021 budget.
Three years ago, President Donald Trump signed into law a policy of achieving a 355-ship Navy. The current navy... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rand Paul (R-KY) are urging their Senate colleagues to support their bill that would prevent going to war with Iran.
The Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019 (S.1039) affirms the constitutional role of Congress as the sole branch of government... Read More »
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed a fiscal year 2019 close-out supplemental budget that triples funding for houses of worship and other nonprofit groups.
The funding is intended to enhance security against hate crimes and terrorist attacks.
The budget adds $1 million to the... Read More »
New Jersey lawmakers are calling for an increase in government funding to protect communities from hate crimes and domestic terrorism.
U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are urging the federal government to increase funding from $90 million to $360 million for the Nonprofit... Read More »
BAE Systems recently secured a $175 million Navy contract to modernize the USS Vicksburg (CG 69) guided-missile cruiser.
The Vicksburg will undergo 18 months of work at the company’s shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, officials said, which serves as the ship’s homeport.
“Over the last few... Read More »
Lockheed Martin has received a $1.9 billion F-35 Joint Program Office contract to support operations and sustainment of the global F-35 fleet in 2020.
“The F-35 continues to deliver exceptional capabilities to the field, and this contract ensures F-35s are mission ready to meet warfighter... Read More »
Five members of New York’s congressional delegation recently sent a letter to top-ranking national security officials requesting an investigation into how foreign adversaries use social media to cause hate and civil unrest in the United States.
The letter was sent to Christopher Wray, Federal... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin following the U.S.-led airstrike that killed Qaseem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf stated that there... Read More »
In a series of catches made over the last two months of 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport intercepted 20 pounds of cocaine being transported by smugglers.
The amounts, which collectively accounted for around $280,000 in... Read More »
In a criticism of President Donald Trump, legislation has been introduced into both the Senate and House, respectively, which would require a debate and vote in Congress before any war with Iran would be allowed.
These War Powers Resolutions were introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Dick... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin processing migrants for return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the Nogales Port of Entry.
This is the seventh port of entry where MPP returns will be made. Any migrants making illegal or entry at the Southwest... Read More »
A mission from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) spotted and intercepted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific last week, seizing 3,600 pounds of cocaine and arresting three Columbian nationals in the process.
The efforts were thanks to a P-3 Orion Long Range... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas seized more than $350,000 in marijuana over the final weekend of 2019. The seizures were the result of four narcotic smuggling attempts.
Three seizures were made Dec. 28.
Agents in Weslaco responded to a call about a suspicious man near Pharr, Texas. The... Read More »
A bill that would ensure that U.S. military service members are provided with ballots and registration cards necessary to vote while deployed overseas was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The Military Voting Protection Act – introduced by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) – was included... Read More »
Though a vaccine for Valley Fever remains out of reach, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) took time at the end of the year to list out all of the accomplishments made to bolster action against the disease over the past year.
“In order to fight this orphan disease, increasing awareness and... Read More »
An allotment of $1.1 million in federal funds has been earmarked for the inaugural Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Manoa.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted the funds were included in the spending... Read More »
The U.S. Marines put a new amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) to the test this month, subjecting it to maneuverability and performance tests during low-light and night operations at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“I am loyal to tracks, but the more I learn about these vehicles, the more impressed I get... Read More »
U.S. Space Operations Command (SPOC) became official on Dec. 20 after Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett re-designated the Fourteenth Air Force.
Air Force military and civilian personnel previously assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force are now assigned to SPOC. The SPOC supports the U.S.... Read More »
